Yoga Journey with Ying
👋 I'm Ying and I'm here to share with you my yoga journey. Before I dive in, here's a little bit about me. I work as a freelance financial consultant so you can find me neck deep in data analysis when I'm not stretching. In whatever time I have left, I like to roll around with my dog and make music :)
My interest in yoga sparked four years ago when my good friend, Hester (a yoga enthusiast, recently turned YTT certified yogi), went into a tripod headstand on the sands of Palm Beach, Aruba.
I vividly remember attempting that pose for the first time; experiencing a nanosecond of upside-down time before toppling over, legs flailing, crashing onto the sand. I was immediately intrigued and became obsessed with inversions (asanas in yoga that take you upside-down).
I was not sure where or how to start, but I knew I was up for the challenge. Behold, the very start of my yoga journey.
The Perpetual Journey
For me, yoga has become an ongoing journey of discovery and evolution. I navigate it with no judgments and learn at my own pace—wholesome lessons that translate into my everyday.
I allow my practice to be what I need it to be. In times of chaos, it offers the space to slow my mind down to restore balance. In times of uncertainty, it grounds me to empower inner peace and clarity, or simply a way to feel good in my own body when I need to unwind and decompress—reaping the physical benefits of flexibility, strength, mobility, and balance.
Yoga is for everyone
Yoga is not one-size-fits-all but it is definitely for everyone. There are many different styles that come in different “sizes” for people to try—Iyengar, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Vinyasa, and Yin just to name a few.
For anyone who’s looking to start, I’d say:
Choose a style that best fits you
Figure out if you should start on your own or with a studio class (it may be a mixture of both) and give it a shot.
There is no right way, just what works for you. Have fun with it and most importantly, embrace the journey. :)
Salut via Sun Salutations
That being said, I’d like to share with you a mini flow that I hope activates your mind-body as well as open up your heart to building nourishing habits—whatever that may be. Thanks for tuning in!
Mountain Pose - Exhale
Extended Mountain Pose - Inhale
Forward Fold - Exhale
Lunge - Inhale
Downward Dog - Exhale
6 High Plank to Chaturanga - Inhale - Exhale
Upward Dog - Inhale
Downward Dog - Exhale
Lunge - Inhale
Forward Fold - Exhale
Extended Mountain Pose - Inhale
Mountain Pose - Exhale
Happy flowing,
Ying
Text & Photography by Ying Feng Wu