This is
an advice column I wrote for San Diego's Gay & Lesbian Times.
A woman wrote to me asking for help in motivating herself to do
yoga, weight training and meditation.
Dear Michael:
My doctor told me that
I have to exercise. She’s pushing me to do yoga (for flexibility) and
weight training (for strength). She also said that some kind of
meditation would be good to help lower my anxiety (I’m a chronic
worrier). I know she’s right, but I just can’t get myself to start any of
these things. I’ve never done yoga before and meditation sounds too
weird. I used to go to a gym but I just hated it and couldn’t make myself
do it so I stopped going. Can you help?
Overweight, anxious
and stuck
Dear OA&S:
I admire a doctor like
yours who suggests activities you can do to feel better rather than just
writes you a prescription. Congratulations for choosing her! However, it
sounds like you’re finding it hard to take her advice.
Yoga is great for
flexibility of the body and meditation helps calm the mind. If you have
anxiety or tend to worry a lot (as you said you do), or if you find it
hard to stop thinking or overanalyzing, if you find it hard to fall asleep
at night because you have racing thoughts, yoga and meditation can be very
helpful. There are lots of great yoga studios all over San Diego county,
and most gyms offer free yoga classes to their members.
There are many
different kinds of yoga, each has its devotees. Check them out and pick
the one(s) that make you feel the best. Be picky about teachers. Some
teachers are supportive and gentle; others are strict and bossy. Don’t
settle for less than a good “fit”. If you don’t really like the teacher,
you probably won’t go to the class. Set yourself up to succeed.
Meditation – like yoga
– comes in many “flavors”. There is no one type that works for
everybody. As a first step, why not Google “meditation – San Diego” and
see what you get. Unlike yoga, meditation in San Diego has a much lower
profile. You have to work a little harder to find it. The Unitarian
Universalist Church in Hillcrest (619-298-9978) has two (free) drop-in
meditation groups, one of Monday nights at 7PM and one on Wednesday
mornings at 10AM. You can ask questions about different types of
meditation and get “instruction” if you like. Another good place to learn
meditation is through an organization that specializes in it. One such
organization is the Shambala Meditation Group of San Diego, located at
3139 University Avenue (behind Café Forte). On Friday, Sept. 29 from
7:30pm - 9:00 pm & Saturday, Sept. 30 from 8:30am - 9:00 pm they will
provide a two-day meditation instruction for beginners. For more
information, call them at 619-437-7231.
Continued
