training
The Gift of
Yoga
by Shielu Bharwani
Makeup/Hair by Miho Suzuki Herpich
I
BillyBow
Photography
discovered yoga while I was training to run the
2008 Long Beach Marathon. I wanted to join a
group of runners who can train and lead me to
complete my first marathon and so I went online and
found Beach Runners. They were a group of runners
who trained people to complete marathons. I, signed
up, drove all the way to Long Beach and ran with the
Beach Runners. What I discovered on the first day was
that the people running this team were yogis. So,
as part of our training, after we completed each run,
we would always end at the park and do yoga for
half an hour. I have to admit that I was so stiff and
really quite surprised at how inflexible I was. Each
posture was uncomfortable and difficult and just was
not happening. Yoga was just impossible, and at the
time, unattainable. But what I noticed was that as
the trainings progressed and the runs got longer and
longer. Each time I paused, I would come to a walk
and then stop and just stretch something. I would
come down on the ground put my legs in front of
me and try to stretch, twist or just bow into myself.
Afterwards, I would pick myself back up and start running again. That’s how I managed to finish my first
marathon and my next and so on. I discovered then,
that yoga was a great compliment to my running.
That as long as I was stretching, I had better range of
motion and that I didn’t feel too tight. There was an
ease in my stride. My hamstrings, calves and lower
back weren’t so stiff and sore afterwards.
After the marathon I went out and sought a proper yoga studio. I found one in Sherman Oaks. There’s something to be
said about finishing a marathon that somehow makes you feel that you accomplished something so great and that you
now have it in you that you can accomplish anything. I was feeling pretty athletic at this point, and thought that I could
take on an intermediate yoga class. Well, that was a humbling experience, to say the least! But I really did like how I felt
afterwards, so I kept coming back.
I would continue on my yoga practice and would soon discover yoga’s transformative powers. I was building strength
through my practice inside and out. Using big muscle groups especially in standing postures, I was getting stronger
but also, most especially, cultivating my will. Building an inner strength that would soon carry me through tough
times. Yoga remained the one constant in my life. Keeping me grounded and centered amidst the chaos and turmoil of
around me. Yoga allows me to gaze inwards and pay close attention and to tune in to myself. I honor my self daily with
my practice. This is the gift of yoga.
8. FitnessX.com / FitnessX Magazine