Namaste to cardio! How I found my flow without wrecking my zen

Confession time: cardio and I used to be like oil and water. Even a short jog would leave me wheezing harder than my cat after chasing a laser pointer. My poor joints felt more battered than my attempts at vegan baking. For years, I avoided it like I avoid kale smoothies (sorry not sorry, wellness gurus). But then, enlightenment struck! I discovered the magic of incline walking and gentle jog-walk intervals. Suddenly, cardio didn't feel like punishment for my cookie habits. No more joint pain, and I could actually stick with it without wanting to hide in child's pose forever. The real game-changer? Focusing on my breath like it's a meditation session. Nasal breathing and controlled exhales during my yoga-inspired circuits have been more transformative than my accidental haiku writing. Now I can go for a solid 25-30 minutes without feeling like I need an emergency chocolate chip cookie IV. Bonus: My yoga flow is smoother than ever, and I've got the endurance for those tricky balance poses that used to make me wobble like a newborn giraffe. Namaste to that! 🧘‍♀️💪