I am not one for meditation. I am not one for setting aside time in my busy day to think or to focus on my breathing. However, one early Tuesday morning, I got out of my warm bed and tried something new.

Usually I stroll in the school doors with five minutes to spare. Lately, I’ve been barely hanging on, wanting every last second of sleep I can squeeze in. However, this doesn’t help give me more energy throughout the day. To get out of this funk, I decided to try morning yoga. And it worked.

Arriving for Storm Fit’s weekly 7 a.m. yoga class that costs $85 for 17 sessions, I was excited. Going into the class completely inexperienced with yoga, or even flexibility for that matter, I had zero expectations for myself. I know that sounds bad but in a way it’s completely true. Yoga involves more than just physical flexibility. It teaches breathing techniques and exercises various parts of the body I didn’t even know I had.

Physical fitness is one thing, but having mental toughness is another. By doing these exercises not only was my body put to the test, but my thoughts were too. I began to stop thinking that I wasn’t able to do something, but that I could as long as my mind let me. As soon as I stopped telling myself “I can’t” I began to relax and open up to the unknown world of yoga.

This class wasn’t too challenging. As a beginner, I hopped right in and felt welcomed. I felt capable of doing the poses with little to no struggle. Taught by yoga instructor Angela Leikam, the class began with various stretches, which was helpful as class went on. I didn’t notice the shift from easy stretches to harder maneuvers because I felt my body was warmed and opened up for flexibility.

As the exercises got harder, I found myself sweating. I honestly was surprised. I didn’t know one could sweat from doing yoga, but here I was sweating like a pig.

Along with other students, I was able to workout alongside teachers, like Assistant Athletic Director Sarah Johnson, History teacher Jennifer Brown-Howerton and even Academics Records Coordinator Elizabeth Middleton. This was something new for me. Most people might think this is weird, but it was encouraging being next to other strong and powerful women while participating in something new.

When class was over, I had a new sense of energy restored to my body. I was suddenly wide awake. I was sore from the workout already, which felt good. I was ready to take on the day and even looked forward to next Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. when I could participate again.