Let me start by saying this: I thought yoga was going to be a breeze. I mean, I’ve been on this weight loss journey for a while now. I’ve got my Mounjaro meds in check, my online weight loss plan pinned up on the fridge, and I’ve been doing well with staying active. So, when my best friend signed me up for her yoga class, I thought, “How hard could a bit of stretching be?” Spoiler alert: I was very wrong.

First Impressions: Not as Zen as I Thought

Walking into that studio, I felt like I’d wandered into another dimension. Everyone was so calm, serene, and already twisting themselves into shapes I’m pretty sure I haven’t been able to manage since I was in primary school. Me? I was just trying to figure out how to unroll my mat without looking like a complete amateur.

The instructor, bless her soul, was so peaceful and kept telling us to “breathe deeply” and “let go of tension.” Easy for her to say—she wasn’t the one trying to get her foot behind her ear. As we moved through the poses, I quickly realized my body had other plans. Downward dog? More like downward disaster. My arms were shaking, and by the time we got to the “flowing” part, I was basically a puddle of sweat. But hey, I’m nothing if not determined.

The Unexpected Workout

I thought yoga was all about relaxation and finding your centre. So, I didn’t expect it to be such a workout! Turns out, holding a plank position while also “breathing through the discomfort” makes your whole body feel like it’s on fire. And don’t even get me started on the balance poses. Tree pose? Yeah, my tree was definitely swaying in the wind a bit.

But here’s the thing: despite the sweat dripping and getting the wobbles, I came away feeling strong. I was using muscles I’d forget about and a few that I didn’t even know I had. Yoga might look gentle from the outside, but it’s no joke. It’s a full-body workout.

More Than Just Physical

What really surprised me, though, was how yoga made me feel emotionally. By the end of the class, I wasn’t just sore and a bit tired—I felt calmer. Lighter, even. And not just because I’d sweat buckets. There’s something about taking a few minutes out of our lives focusing on your breath and just being in the moment that really helps clear your head. When you’re losing weight, there’s so much focus on wanting our outward appearance to change that it’s easy to forget about the inside.

Yoga gave me a new way to manage stress. And trust me, as a mum with two kids, any kind of stress management for weight loss is a win in my book. When you feel more relaxed, it’s easier to stay on track with your goals—and resist the urge to get stuck into the biscuits after a long day.

My Yoga Takeaway

So, what’s my verdict after a couple of yoga session? It’s hard. Bloody hard at the beginning. But it’s also a bit amazing. It’s not a magic weight loss pill, but it definitely feels like it’s helping to tone my muscles and improve my flexibility. Plus, it’s a nice change from my usual workouts, and I’m all about mixing things up. So yeah, I’ll keep going with my Mounjaro. Who knows, maybe by lesson five, I’ll finally nail that downward dog without face-planting.

If you haven’t tried yoga yet, give it a go. You might just surprise yourself—if nothing else, you’ll have a good laugh (even if it’s at your own expense).