Yoga is more than just a series of poses or a fitness trend. It’s a deeply personal journey – one that brings us back to ourselves, reconnecting our bodies, minds, and spirits. So, why do you practice yoga? If you’re already a seasoned yogi or yogini, what keeps you coming back to your mat – or your meditation cushion? Maybe you’ve just started, or maybe you’re considering giving it a try. What’s holding you back?
Perhaps you’ve told yourself, “I’m not flexible,” “I’m too old for this,” or “I look terrible in leggings.” Or maybe you’ve even thought, “That’s a practice for women only,” or “I’m too stiff to do yoga.” If that’s the case, my answer to you is simple: You need yoga.
My Own Yoga Journey: A Wake-Up Call
I never set out to become a yoga teacher or a dedicated practitioner. Until my early thirties, I had been practicing very demanding physical activities. Yoga seemed, at first glance, like something slow, something that would bore me. I was into strength and intense movement – not into stretching and breathing.
But life has a funny way of giving us wake-up calls. I started facing some issues and realised I needed to slow down, to find a way to release tension and relax. At that point, I decided to give yoga a try – reluctantly.
I didn’t like it at first. But then, I found a teacher who made all the difference. Slowly but surely, I began to notice changes – not just physically, but emotionally. Yoga started to help me unwind, relax, and feel better. With time, my practice began to feel like more than just a way to stretch or build strength. It became a pathway to something deeper.
From Physical Practice to Self-Discovery
In the beginning, I didn’t understand why I felt so much better after class. I was simply going through the motions – stretching, strengthening, balancing. But as I kept coming back to my mat, I started to feel more than just a release in my muscles. I felt a shift in my mind, in the way I approached life.
Yoga, I realise now, isn’t just about the poses. It isn’t just about the physical aspects of the practice. It is about reconnecting with who I truly am underneath all the layers – layers of stress, insecurity, and doubt. I had been so caught up in trying to live up to other people’s expectations, that I had lost touch with my own sense of self.
Yoga Transforms: Not Just on the Mat
As I became a teacher, I started to truly understand what yoga was about. It helped me to expand my heart, not just my muscles. I became kinder to myself and others. I realised that if I could show myself compassion, I could show it to those around me. When I took better care of my body, I found that I made healthier choices in all areas of my life – what I ate, how I rested, how I interacted with people. The postures, the breathwork, the philosophy – they aren’t just tools for physical fitness; they are tools for awakening your true self. To peel off the layers of education, conditioning, expectations, in order to become who you were always meant to be. Yoga isn’t about trying to be perfect. It is about showing up for yourself, as you are, and allowing the practice to unfold in its own time.
Yoga Is More Than Poses: It’s a Path to Wholeness
When I teach, I try to remember that yoga isn’t about perfect alignment. It’s not about looking a certain way or achieving some external goal. Every body is different, and there’s no “one right way” to practice. What I care about is that you’re safe, breathing, and present. Hopefully, having fun!
Yoga isn’t about performing perfect shapes on your mat. It’s about understanding that every pose is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Take Tree Pose, for example.
Beside showing off your full height, what are you doing? Stretching the hip of your lifted leg, strengthening the standing leg and foot, and improving your balance. But, more deeply... what is going on? You are engaging your core muscles; maybe recruiting your breath to help you stabilise. What else? Maybe you are learning to deal with the frustration of not being able to be as stable as you would like – you are cultivating patience. Anything else? Yes. You are focusing on an unmoving point in front of you, and maybe noticing that, every time your mind wanders, you wobble. So, what are you trying to do? Still your mind. And that is what Yoga is said to be ... Yogas chitta vritti nirodha” “Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind” (Patanjali, second Sutra).
Can you believe you have done so many things with one single pose? And are you surprised, now, about how much better you feel after a “simple” Yoga class, where you have been “just making shapes and stretching”?
Your Yoga Journey: What Are You Looking For?
Yoga is a journey, not a destination. Maybe you’re looking for physical strength, mental clarity, or emotional healing. Whatever it is you seek, yoga will meet you where you are and guide you toward where you need to be. But it’s a deeply personal path, and it will unfold in its own time.
I would love to hear about your own yoga journey. Whether you’re just starting or have been practicing for years, what has yoga brought to your life? What are you hoping to find on your mat? I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences with me—I’m curious to learn about your path.
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