Bayliss Williams

I got into yoga a few years ago and enjoy it, and I encourage other people to try it out for themselves. Many people think of it as just a form of exercise, and some people will brush it off or not fully invest themselves when others try to get them to start. I understand that mindset, but if you give it a dedicated try, you will be more likely to continue and make it a regular part of your life.

There are different types of yoga that you can get into. I have taken classes in hot, indoor, outdoor, slow flow, deep stretch, and beats yoga, with participants playing various musical instruments throughout the class. Hot and beats yoga classes are my favorite. Infrared panels heat the hot yoga classes, and the room is usually around 104°F. As you can imagine, these classes can get pretty sweaty. Don’t let the heat scare you—if you get overwhelmed, you can always step out of the room to cool down and return whenever you are ready.

Musical or beats classes are more soothing. The instruments you play emit different vibrations throughout the room. These vibrations and sounds help cleanse your body of anything you are holding onto. You might find a mix between the two, and hot classes with beats are always fun because everyone gets into the flow with the music, and it’s a unique experience. In deep stretch classes with music, you play a slower style using flutes, wind chimes, and sound bowls. You stay in the positions longer (usually at most five minutes), but these classes are excellent for beginners. Because each movement is slow, you’ll learn a lot of positions without feeling like you are falling behind. 

One of the other reasons I recommend yoga is that I have watched it help so many people mentally and physically. It teaches you to live your life at your own pace because you have to be around people who may be more advanced than you are, and you have to learn that it’s okay to progress at your own speed. Throughout my time working at Khali Yoga Center, I have seen people come through the door who were in recovery or dealing with injuries that prevented them from moving the way that they used to. I saw a woman in her 70s hold a headstand for 10 minutes after every class, and she said that her doctors told her that her bone density had increased by 80%, a rare increase that is even rarer in older people. 

Overall, working at a yoga studio and practicing myself has been one of the best experiences in my life, and it has changed my life for the better. Being able to take better care of myself and contribute to helping change other people’s lives is a feeling you can’t describe unless you experience it for yourself.