Happy International Yoga Day!

In honor of International Yoga Day our yoga instructor, Joey Schmuhl, answered a few questions for us!

How did you get into yoga?

I went to my first yoga class in 2004 when a friend asked if I would join her for a class at a new studio. I had suffered from knee and hip pain related to running. I was also newly divorced and confused about the trajectory of my life. It was an opportunity to heal my body and found that it provided me more than a physical activity. I began to deal with emotions that I have avoided and began to learn to respect the mind body connection. In 2015, after 10 years of yoga practice, as a student, I completed a 200-hour Hatha yoga training in Fargo. I have continued to practice and teach various forms of yoga. I also enjoy seeking out studios wherever I go.

How does yoga differ from meditation and Pilates?

In traditional yoga, like Hatha yoga, meditation closely related to the asana practice or the physical practice. It is believed that The Yoga Sutras were written by Patanjali sometime around 400 CE. The Yoga Sutras provide guidance for the practice that we call yoga and describe 8 limbs of yoga. The asana practice or poses that most people are familiar with are only one aspect or limb of the traditional yoga practice. The practice becomes a way to quiet the body and prepare it for meditation. Meditation is the seventh of the 8 limbs and is described often as an uninterrupted flow of concentration. Meditation can certainly be practiced without an asana practice and many people do this. Compared to yoga, Pilates is very new. Developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century to strengthen the mind and body. Soldiers in hospital beds that needed rehab inspired him. He created an “apparatus,” commonly referred to as a reformer. The focus of Pilates is to strengthen the whole body by creating a strong core.

Do you have to be flexible to do yoga?

Many people assume that you need to be flexible to do yoga. Poses can be modified for all types of bodies. I have taught yoga to people of all abilities, sizes and shapes. Yoga should be challenging but should never be painful or straining. Just as CrossFit workouts are scaled to make them accessible to everybody, yoga poses can be modified.

Is water intake as important in yoga as it is in CrossFit?

Water intake for yoga depends greatly on the type of yoga practiced. I encourage all my students to have water with them for the practice and drink plenty of water after class. However, students should not drink too much water or eat before class as it can be uncomfortable during inversions (poses in which your heart is above your head). Some types of yoga, such as Ashtanga yoga, do not allow water in the classroom for this reason.

As a CrossFit athlete, how often should you do yoga?

A daily yoga practice is optimal but a 60 to 90-minute yoga class every day is likely impossible for most people. Instead, I encourage everyone to incorporate yoga into his or her lives. Breathing and breath work is vital throughout our days to reduce stress and anxiety and to nurture the body and mind. Taking a few long deep breaths can improve just about any moment. Crossfit athletes should aim to incorporate a full yoga class at least weekly. Crossfit and yoga complement each other by creating strength, stamina, stability and flexibility in the body.

Happy International Yoga Day!