Last weekend, while I was lying down in Savasana (final resting/lying down) pose at the end of a gruesome yoga bootcamp-type class, I started thinking about my mom.

I go to yoga regularly and I always find myself thinking about her during this pose, as when my mind is given the freedom to wander, it usually wanders over to her.

In this class, specifically, I was thinking about how I think she would be happy about where I’ve come to in terms of my fitness level. My mom was always the one to encourage me to exercise, and though I’m certainly no fitness junkie, I think her pushing me is a key factor behind the motivation I feel now to stay in shape.

Well this class was a really tough class — the type where you want to give up about every 30 seconds but you know that you can give a little more still, so you push — so I was pleased with the fact that I’d made it through successfully (side note: I stayed sore for five days). I’d been to this class two or three times previously, and I’d never been able to make it through the full sequence. But this time, I was able to, and I thought my mom would like that.

That also got me thinking about my mom’s attitude towards health and fitness. I didn’t ever discuss this with her, but I can see how her attitude shone through her actions, and now I want to share my thoughts.

Every day, as many of you will know, my mom would go on a walk through our neighborhood of Ruby Hill. I’m not talking about a stroll; I’m talking about a fierce, I’m-on-a-mission type walk. Anytime any of us tried to keep up with her, well, we really couldn’t. It’s such a lovely picture to think about, though I miss it dearly — my beautiful mama decked out in her pink visor, walking shoes, and one of a few outfits: A flowery green Express sweatshirt paired with my black cheerleading pants from years ago that were ordered in adult size rather than children’s, a blue fleece zip up jacket and gray track pants, or some variation in between. But always a visor.

My mom’s walk was always a priority for her. Ideally, she would fit it in in the morning, often alongside friends. But when that wasn’t a possibility, she’d go for a walk even at 10 at night, as it was important to make sure she got her exercise in.

During my yoga class, I was also thinking about why and how she’d developed such an admirable exercise ethic.

I think there were a number of reasons. One being that she really enjoyed walking; another being that she wanted her body to look and feel a certain way, like most of us do. I’d like to focus on a couple of the other reasons, though.

You may have heard the Bible verse about the body being a temple (of the Holy Spirit) and to honor God with your body. To clarify, that verse is actually written about sexual conduct and not about exercise, so I’m extrapolating here. But I think the principle still applies, and I think it guided the way my mom treated her body — that she sought to care for her body and honor God by doing so. One aspect of that would have been exercising.

Then perhaps there’s another reason, and that’s that taking care of her body also honored her family. Again, this is just conjecture on my part, but I know my mom well and I know that her family was of great significance to her.

What does taking care of her body have to do with honoring her family? Well, by looking after herself, she was doing what was in her control to ensure that she could be there for her family. By caring for her body, she was fending off health problems that might otherwise arise in the future and lead to otherwise avoidable challenge, pain, or inconvenience for the family. She was doing her best to ensure that she could be there for us in full capacity — she was looking out for us.

Now, as my family learned the devastating way, so much of life isn’t in our control, and my mom getting sick certainly wasn’t. And something like that is inescapable, even when you’ve done everything right that you could have. So what matters is how you manage what’s in your control — and my mom did so admirably. The significance of her honoring her family by taking care of herself is great, and I very much appreciate it.

I hadn’t thought about how something like exercise could actually be a very selfless activity before this yoga class, but during my five minutes of Savasana I was left with a very different view. I think it will actually have a long-term impact on how I take care of myself in the future. Because now I recognize that caring for myself means caring for my family too. It means doing what I can today to ensure that I’m healthy for them tomorrow.

For me, this is what Lessons from Anju is about. It’s about learning from my mom, in the past and the present. There are lessons I have already learned from her, and lessons that I am learning still.

Before I conclude, I also want to say that while my mom took good care of herself, she also understood balance — oh yes. When we went to the movies, for instance, she would generously — and I mean generously — help herself to butter-laden popcorn. And then we would bring back the leftovers and she would snack on the popcorn for days! And then there were times when we would have rice with dinner and then she’d pick at leftover rice after the meal, when she would scold Sanam for doing the same thing (and then we’d scold her in turn)! That was funny.

Perhaps, like me, you never previously viewed something like exercise in this way — that it affects more than just the way you look or feel. That it can also be a gesture of love to your family, or future family — one that tells them, I honor you and I’m doing what I can to be there for you.

Truly, I’m in awe of my mom. Through her actions, big and small, I learn to think in different ways and be more open-minded — even about things as routine as exercise — and she helps me to become a better person. Couldn’t ask for a better mom than that.