People in my yoga class don’t believe that I lift weights – really heavy weights. Especially when they see me doing a split or bow pose. But the strength training and body balancing approach in the Soma Science℠ philosophy has completely changed my yoga practice for the better.
Yoga used to be really hard for me. I would collapse during my sun salutations because I lacked the triceps strength to lower myself through chaturanga. My up dog looked and felt like a wooden plank. My shoulders were so unstable, weak and painful from an old volleyball injury that when my instructor said “lets take a rest in down dog” I wanted to cry. And to add insult to literal injury- my back and hips were often painful during and after classes where there were lots of seated and standing forward folds. I “knew” that yoga was “good for me”… so why did it hurt?
The body balancing aspect in the Soma Science℠ philosophy has brought a mobility into my thoracic and lumbar spine that I never thought possible. The previously miserable up dog position became enjoyable because of my improved lumbar flexibility with my Soma Science℠ home body balancing program. The strength and stability in my shoulders has improved dramatically because of my increased thoracic spine mobility. My shoulder pain is managed easily and maintaining a pain-free range of motion is a breeze. These balancing activities combined with the high intensity strength training allows me to not only crave spending time in down dog- but allows me to perform side plank balances and arm balances- like side crow – that I never dreamed would be possible.
But the best part of my practice these days is that IT DOESN’T HURT! The skills I’ve learned within the Well Effect℠ program on how to modify poses as needed to respect my hips and back has changed the game. I can participate without fear of injury and I have the mobility and stability in my hips and low back to support the movement pattern. I can participate fully and move through the entire flow of a high intensity class without reservation or pain. And this allows me to reap the incredible mental and stress relief benefits that were the major goal of beginning the practice in the first place.
I’m a Weight Lifter. I’m a Yogi. The Soma Science℠ program made it possible to be both.
Be Well,
Stephanie Sprout