In my time as the Nike Field Reporter, I’ve had some awesome opportunities to interview top athletes and musicians. In my most recent interview, however, I headed down to Atlanta to participate in a yoga session with a woman who impressively embodies both musical and athletic abilities. A lot of her fans have told me, “I love her, she has the voice of an angel.” Although I’m not sure how an angel actually sounds, I’m sure Jennifer Nettles, lead singer of one of the top country music groups, Sugarland, sure sounds like one. She can sing her heart out a concert and she can balance herself upside down in a yoga session. I can’t even sing in the shower.

I took a yoga gym class in high school and thought it was cool, but watching Jennifer use her muscles and still keep balance and transition into the different yoga positions really impressed me. She’s at a much higher level than I am, but I felt like I could at least keep up by peeking through my peripheral vision to see if I was doing each stretch properly. I kept telling myself, “Don’t worry Sarina, it’s not like you have a camera crew or anyone really watching.”

The interesting thing about yoga is it’s all about transitioning. Breathing in and out, stretching and focusing. Forget the fact that I’m interviewing and working out with one of the most famous country music singers, I’m just trying to keep myself together and not bust my butt on the floor. I have to admit, zoning out the rest of my issues and just focusing on how to transition from the floor to a sideways position was a lot easier than I had primarily envisioned.

Don’t be intimidated to try out yoga either; Jennifer started on basic DVDs. Although many of you aren’t traveling around the world, for anyone who has a hectic schedule like Jennifer Nettles and Sugarland, yoga may be the best thing to take up. “You can do it anywhere… well almost anywhere” Jennifer says. It’s something she tries to do everyday for about an hour to an hour and a half. You work up a sweat, but somehow feel calmer and more energized at the end of a session.

For a strong woman who really embraces her athletic abilities and her musical gift, it wouldn’t hurt if we were all a little bit more like Jennifer Nettles. Get into the holiday spirit with Sugarland’s latest Christmas album, Gold and Green and burn off the cream puffs and big dinners with a nice yoga session.

-Sarina