3 minute read
Mindfulness: Maya Rodriguez
Mindfulness
With Maya Rodriguez of Sequoia Kung Fu & Yoga.
Story by Lifestyle Staff | Photos by Katie Perez
sequoiakungfuandyoga.com
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Maya Rodriguez was born and raised in Visalia, playing soccer in high school, and going to the gym religiously in her 20s. She had self-pride in being strong and fit, but it wasn’t until she discovered yoga and meditation that she realized how much further her body could be pushed and strengthened. While living abroad in Beijing with her husband, Maya experienced anxiety due to culture shock and not knowing the language. She sought out a solution with yoga practice, even though she had a preconceived notion that a yoga studio was just a trendy place where people could flaunt their new yoga outfit. Soon after dedicating the time to the practice, she experienced both physical and mental benefits.
She learned to listen to her body, developed more self-awareness, gained a sense of peace and balance, and strengthened her coping skills. Yoga helped her manage her anxiety, and the migraines she was experiencing began to go away. “Yoga is a lifelong practice and learning process. Your body is constantly changing, so your practice should change as your body grows. After years of practice, I feel better in my 40s than I did in my 30s,” says Maya. Together with her husband, Sonny, she aims to help students feel confident and strong. They recognize that each person’s path and pace is unique to the individual, so they guide with concepts that make it accessible to all. Here are some benefits of trying yoga:
Self-Acceptance
Finding inner happiness means connecting with your body and changing the inner narrative. Stress and self-doubt holds you back from learning and growing; to get to where you want to be, you have to first be okay with where you currently are. Spending time practicing yoga allows you to spend time in your body, physically testing it. Try to prioritize the time and space at home or at a studio to learn about your physical self.
Body Circulation
Poor circulation can physically manifest itself through symptoms like cold hands and feet, numbness, muscle cramping, brittle hair and nails, and skin breakouts. Movement like yoga is one of the best types of exercise to improve circulation and can be practiced at all skill levels. The poses promote flexibility, and can help relieve pain and blockages, like muscle knots.
Healing
Most of us know someone who has experienced anxiety attacks when the nervous system reacts in a fight or flight response. Or perhaps you’ve experienced continuous irritating events that lead to a burnout, causing an episode of “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Yoga can help you find your center when under stress. It can release mood-boosting endorphins that can positively affect how you handle stress.
