A BIT OF A STRETCH OR: HOW I OVERCAME MY FEAR OF FLEXIBILITY AND LEARNED TO LOVE STRETCHING

By Harrison J. Bahe

A year ago, if you would’ve told me that I would be reviewing a yoga class the way I review movies, I would’ve promptly sent you back to the pond for being a silly goose. Alas, here we are. On August 7th, 2024, I attended Andrew Gonzales’ Stretching class which was being held in the Wellness Room down at the Fort McDowell Recreation center. As I entered, Andrew was already doing some preliminary stretches as I saw a single barefoot along the entrance way. We conversed for a brief spiel and after a while, we realized no one was coming. During our conversation, we discussed such topics as my new job and the Arsenic Treatment Plant event that happened that morning. I told him how shocked I was that even such a simple event like that winded me. That got me thinking about the class which now stood empty. Stretching or, well, let’s face it, yoga has always intimidated me. Probably more so than any other workouts. I could lift the weights and I could walk the treadmill but could I raise my rump into the air while lifting my foot up over my head without the embarrassment of flatulence? Well, I took advantage of an empty classroom to find out. I trust Andrew and I know that whatever would happen, there’d be no judgment whatsoever. I initially went to this class to cover it for the newsletter but since I was the only one there, I was like, why not just participate? I did not regret my decision.

A very logical reason I had for being intimidated by yoga is the simple fact that I am a whopping 450+ pounds. There’s no other way of putting it. I am morbidly obese and just imagining my body intertwining into those impossible positions scared the bejesus out of me. However, Andrew being the Fitness Specialist he is, assured me that any and all workouts can be modified for the one doing them. We sat upon yoga mats spread out on the floor (I ended up needing two by the end) and started doing some breathing exercises. We then moved into some basic warm up stretches that involved the neck, arms, and shoulders. So far, so good. Afterwards, we focused on the legs which were put into a position commonly known as the Cobbler’s pose which was then followed by a technique where one leg was held outward, you held yourself up with one arm, and, using the other arm, reached under the other arm and brought it back up as high as you could pointing your finger to the ceiling. All through this session, Andrew emphasized breathing. One deep breath in through the nose and one long breath out the mouth. He mentioned that it was normal for beginners to hold their breath while they held these positions. It took me several tries to realize that I was doing just that but I gradually learned to breathe while holding these positions. Despite how difficult it was.

Then came the part that truly scared me. I was asked to get on all fours. This was truly the challenging part but it wasn’t in the way I thought it would be. While the positions we took were physically demanding and pushed me to my absolute limits, the hardest part wasn’t maintaining those positions but rather remaining on my knees long enough to hold them for an extended period of time. Hence why I needed two yoga mats by the end. The first technique we did was something called the Cat-Cow Stretch in which you’d curve your back outward and then arch your lower back down back and forth and back and forth. It was this technique which caused my lower back to crack with such beautiful, infinite release. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the kind of cracking that releases years and years of tension. Yeah, this technique did that. About that time, and a few techniques ahead, I was beginning to lose steam as we approached our last step. And it was a doozy. We started on the ground, moved up into a position called the Downward Facing Dog, and raised our praying hands to the air all while intaking a huge breath of air. Somewhere in between all those maneuvers, I pulled off my first plank ever. It lasted only a mere second but it was my absolute first plank ever. That’s something I thought I could never do and I inadvertently achieved it in a yoga class I never intended to take. Now, imagine what wonders I could accomplish if I actually set out to do things on purpose as opposed to accidentally.

We finally reached the end. We engaged in some cool down meditations where we laid on our backs, closed our eyes, and did more breathing techniques. Admittedly, it’s a position I would have found myself in regardless because, by the end, I was physically spent. I was drenched in the deepest of sweats and I was breathing hard. Andrew walked me through simple things like moving your fingers, moving your neck, wiggling your toes, and finally, raising my knees up and swinging them gradually from left to right. I didn’t think I had any more back cracks left in me but lo and behold, my lower back cracked again. Such sweet release. Finally, we just laid there and I slowly recuperated as Andrew told me to sit up slowly. We. Were. Done.

The whole class took less than thirty minutes and as soon as I was able to properly recuperate and feel the effects of what I just put myself through, I felt oddly— victorious. Not exhausted. Not sore (well, we’ll see about that tomorrow). But— victorious. You always hear about those stories of athletes feeling “good” after a workout. Well, that’s what I felt. A sense of euphoria. A sense of accomplishment. I may as well have been Peter Parker eating a New York City hot dog without a worry in the world while B.J. Thomas sang about the raindrops that kept falling on his head. Scientifically, what was happening to me was that chemicals called endorphins were being released in my brain which causes the person to have an overwhelming sense of positivity and an energizing outlook on life. Despite how drenched in sweat I was after twisting my body into multiple yoga positions, I felt good. Better than good, actually. I felt great. Needless to say, it was a bit of a stretch (haha) but I eventually overcame my fear of flexibility and learned to love stretching.

On a final note, for those who are nervous or intimidated by attending this stretching/yoga class. My simple answer is don’t feel either of those things. Andrew does a terrific job of creating a calming environment and a welcoming aura where anyone with any body (mine being a 450+ lb man) can come in and engage in healthy practices. As I said before, if you would’ve told me a year ago that I would be reviewing a yoga class the same way I would be reviewing movies, I would’ve sent you back to the pond for being a silly goose. So, I’ll close with this: if I can do it…

So can you.

The next stretch class will be held on August 28th, 2024 at 12pm in the Wellness Room down at the Fort McDowell Recreation Center. I’ll be seeing you there.