What Yoga Taught Me

Before I get into what yoga has taught me to be a happier and more successful person, let's take a step back and talk about my journey to this point.

 I've been doing yoga off and on for two years; however, I was never consistent until recently. For the past year or so, I have been a Classpass member. At first it was great! I loved it. The flexibility and variety were unparalleled. I was doing yoga, Crossfit, Spinning, gymnastics and heck, even kayaking! I found a yoga studio and teacher that I LOVED and attended her class consistently.

The problem with Classpass is that you can only go to the same studio three times a month. I reached a point where I wanted to commit to yoga and decided to join the amazing yoga studio I found through the app, with a monthly membership, knowing that I would get so much more out of it.

 Having already done yoga for two years, I knew the principals of the practice. Dedicating myself to yoga on a daily basis has accelerated that learning path.

 Yoga isn't about building strength or flexibility- those are by products. It isn't about holding a certain pose the best. It's about learning to be present in your body and noticing what comes up for you. Every day is different, and your body is different each time you step onto the mat. Can you listen without judgement? Can you notice without reaction?

 My favorite concept of yoga, which my teacher regularly reminds us, is based on a quote by the famous yogi, BKS Iyengar: "The pose begins when you want to leave it." Can you hang on even when it gets difficult and challenging? Can you break through the buildup of stress within your body to reach a deeper level?

 Some people think yoga is about turning off the mind, but it isn't about that either. It's about creating a stronger awareness within yourself so when you leave your mat, you are more aware than when you stepped on.

 Some days are tougher than others. Some days it's difficult to watch your thoughts go by without chasing them. Some days it's physically harder. In fact, mornings are even more challenging because your muscles are tight and haven't had a chance to stretch out yet. It's not always easy, but on the days when your hamstrings are tighter, can you give them what they need without wishing they were more flexible?  Can you be kinder to yourself?

 If you get carried away by your thoughts and matters off the mat, no worries, simply bring you awareness to your breath and focus it in certain areas- where the tension is or in between every rib where the breath rarely reaches. After all, yoga is about breathing before anything else.

 What if we took these principals and applied them to our daily lives? To be present, to not judge ourselves, to remember self-care, to let go of what does not serve us, to remember to breathe, to be less reactionary and to take time for ourselves. Those are the principals that yoga has taught me.