Yoga Diaries: Day 0

A couple of years ago, I started doing yoga at my local gym. Gyms typically don't have the best yoga instructors in my experience, but I realized I finally found a form of exercise that I enjoyed doing!

After I moved back home, I looked for a yoga studio and I found one in Whittier that I really love. It's called Greenleaf Yoga, it's pretty small, but I love it and I really love the instructor.

Last December when I was visiting my sister in Napa, I hurt my back and it's been bothering me ever since. Yes, for 10 months. I've really become limited in what I can do. I can't run, jump, sit for too long, or be too active. I get sciatic pain and numbness... and the pain radiates from my lower back and at times, all the way to my feet! Because I've been so immobile I've put on some weight and become really inflexible. I can't even touch my toes!

I saw a chiropractor, which did NOTHING for me. I've tried icing, heating, taking Motrin, Tylenol... I've tried walking, swimming, biking, resting... nothing seems to help except standing, which is really impractical since I'm a student. I finally saw a doctor who thinks I may have a chronic back condition--a herniated disc and prescribed me some muscle relaxants.

I'm 27. I'm not supposed to have this type of back pain.

So anyway, I've decided to take up yoga again to see if it helps. I'm really bad about staying with an exercise regimen. So I thought if I blog about it, maybe it'd keep me more accountable. I'm starting Monday, and I'm kind of excited and scared. Excited because I loved yoga and miss it. Scared because... I really hope it helps.

Although I won't be doing this again anytime soon:

hopefully I'll be able to touch my toes again... wish me luck!

btw, that's not me.