Treehouse: Just Breathe
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Back in college, yoga was just… a thing. You know? Just a one-credit course you took to fill a requirement and get an easy A. It was in this stuffy, multipurpose room in the basement of the gym, and honestly, I spent most of the time zoning out, checking the clock, and waiting for it to be over. I wasn’t there to find balance or enlightenment or whatever people talk about with yoga—I was there to knock out a requirement and move on. I was a baseball player at a four-year university, and my focus was on the field, the weight room, and making sure my arm stayed in good shape—not on nailing a perfect warrior pose. Yoga was fine. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t get it either. It seemed like a filler activity, something people did more for the aesthetic than any real purpose.
Fast forward a couple of years, and things shifted. One of my buddies from my baseball team dragged me to this local community yoga series they were doing at the park, and I’ll be real with you—I wasn’t thrilled about it at first. I’m a Christian, and I’ve always been a bit cautious when it comes to new-agey stuff. I don’t want to get into anything that feels like it's veering into spiritual fluff or something that doesn’t align with my faith. But this didn’t feel like that at all. The instructor wasn’t trying to push any “cosmic energy” or anything; it was about focus, movement, and just letting yourself breathe. The vibe was grounded, not out there, and I appreciated that.
This yoga, though? It’s different. It’s outdoors, under the sky, with fresh air instead of that weird, stale, gym smell. The instructor actually cares about helping you understand what you’re doing—not just physically, but mentally too. It’s not about going through the motions but about being deliberate, and that’s something I’ve started to respect. You slow down, pay attention to how you’re moving, and somehow, that helps quiet all the noise in your head. You wouldn’t think that kind of focus would translate to something like baseball, but it does. I feel looser, more in control, both physically and mentally, when I’m on the field.
Honestly, I think more athletes should take this kind of thing seriously. Not just yoga, but anything that gets you tuned in to what’s happening in your mind and body. We spend so much time working on the physical—lifting more, running faster, throwing harder—but I’m starting to think we overlook the spiritual side of it. And no, I don’t mean spiritual in some weird, abstract way. I’m talking about whatever keeps you grounded, connected, and focused. For me, a big part of that comes from my faith. But this yoga thing? It’s nudging me to see how calming your mind and breathing with intention can complement that in a way I didn’t expect.
I guess it’s funny. Back then, yoga was just this chore I wanted to check off a list. Now, it feels like the exact opposite—it helps slow down life a little, letting me take it in. My buddy’s already talking about giving hot yoga a try. Right now, I’m good with this whole outdoor thing, but who knows? Maybe someday, I’ll give it a shot. For now, it’s nice just to breathe and take a step back from the hustle. Turns out, that’s not such a bad thing.