I am not going to sit here and pretend that I am some great yoga master, because I am SO not. But I have been doing yoga (semi) regularly for a little over a year now, and I have a learned a lot! I hope that some of these life lessons from yoga resonate with you and encourage you to give it a try – or to get back on the mat!
Be Still
As someone who struggles with truly resting, yoga has become a very restful outlet for me. I can not only work my muscles, but also my mind. I do my own form of meditation which includes focusing my mind, praying, and positive statements about myself and my day. It helps me to recenter on what is really important. Learning to let my thoughts go through my mind and out without dwelling or fixating has been a major release for me!
Be Present
I like to be efficient with my time, which means I am often thinking about the next 3 steps instead of focusing on the step at hand. Yoga has given me a space to focus on one thing at a time. It encourages me to enjoy what’s in front on me – not the past, not the future. It is a way to be reminded of all God has given me right now.
Be Positive
Yoga really gave me a way to be more healthy both in body and mind. I have always struggled with a negative view of myself and often “working out” just made me more negative. Yoga has helped me see that it’s about an attitude shift – a focus on my practice as a whole. It has taught me that it’s okay to have ups and downs because it’s not about perfection, it’s about health. Part of my “meditation” usually includes a short positive phrase as well – whether it’s a prayer or a few words about myself or my day.
Be Confident
Yoga has taught me to appreciate my body and to not be afraid to try new things. It has really helped me to recognize that God made me a certain way and that I should love myself because He does. It helps me feel confident – I can look at something and know that with practice I CAN do it. And because yoga is all about the practice, I don’t have to be discouraged by failure because it’s all a part of learning.
Be Calm
Yoga, quite simply, encourages me to be more intentional. When I take time to practice, my mind calms down which automatically calms my body. Physically, yoga has made a huge difference in lessening the negative results of stress. Many of my gut-issues went away when I started to practice yoga on a regular basis. Yoga has been a huge help during this pregnancy as it helps me to calm down and also relieves the aches and pains that come with carrying a baby.
Be Consitent
To keep reaping the benefits of yoga, I have to keep practicing yoga. It is a constant reminder that change and strength take time. I’ve fallen off the wagon several times (hello, first trimester!) but just taking time to get back to the mat for a few minutes each day makes a huge difference!
Be Connected
It may sound corny, but I feel so much more connected – to myself, to Creation, to God – when I practice yoga regularly. I love feeling plugged in rather than tuned out.
SO – have you ever tried yoga?
Check out some of my favorite online classes!
Yoga with Adriene (check out her 30 days of Yoga challenge!)
Bad Yogi (love her no-judgement approach to yoga!)
Pregnant Yogi Playlist (doing yoga has made being pregnant an even better experience!)