Hi my favorite people- TGIF!! I don’t know about you, but I am more than pleased that it’s the weekend. And I have zero plans. Happy as a clam. What about you? I hope you had a fabulous week and have an even better weekend waiting for you.
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Here’s a guest post from my girl Thais!
Sometimes I wonder why I love yoga so much. It’s anything but easy, the progress is slow, some poses are borderline crazy, and everyday my body’s needs are different. The catch is, despite all of that, yoga isn’t really about the asanas but about connecting with the breath. Who would’ve thought. But fact of the matter is, yoga saved my life.
I am one of those people who lived the majority of my life completely disconnected from my body. Only after I started therapy did I realize how much I believed that the body was simply a slave of the mind rather than a tool for happiness. So I went to yoga to seek reconnection. After each class I left the studio with such a state of happiness, which I dubbed as a “yoga high”, that I just had to go back time and time again. Initially I only practiced yoga on my mat. I learned to enjoy the breath. I learned patience and persistence. I learned the joys of a good sweaty detox class. I learned that just because I can touch my toes does not mean I am in any way shape or form “better”. Eventually I noticed these lessons started following me around off the mat. I became more observant of how inflexible my mind was to change. I realized I carried tension with me for no reason. I started to become more compassionate with myself.
Above all, the most important thing I’ve learned with my yoga practice is the power of the intention. If we do not set an intention before our practice, we tend to bring the same neurosis we have off the mat, on the matt. We must make it a point to let go, to breathe, to be ok with where we are, etc, when we practice. It’s my sincerest belief that without mindful intention, yoga is no different than gymnastics. This component of the practice is what creates change in the way we lead our lives. It’s what helped me express myself in a different way. Slowly but surely I am more positive, more open to life. All because I chose to approach yoga consciously and with great care. So of course, with such a love for the practice I had to go through teacher training. I wanted to learn everything I could about this world that I was just dipping my toes in. 200 hours later, I still feel like I am just skimming the surface of a beautiful ancient practice. There is so much more to yoga than just postures!!
The more I learn, the more I want to share my knowledge. Eventually I want to teach yoga full time, just like our dear Camille does. We shall see what life has in store for me. After all that, what I am trying to say is – DO MORE YOGA! Whether it’s off the mat, or on the mat, I cannot encourage you enough to honor your practice. Maybe you practice to perfect your natarajasana (one of my favorite poses), or maybe you practice to get away from the craziness of life. Regardless of the reason, regardless of the actual practice, regardless of how successful you are, the point is just do it. Set an intention and go after your dreams. You’d be surprised at how nurturing the world is for those who find happiness in being.
Thais is a 20s something yogadork with a passion for living life to the fullest. You can catch her taking naps in the park with her black lab, Caviar, reading ten books at a time, or tweeting away about some quote or another. Check out her corner of the blogging world here.
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Happy Friday! Don’t forget next Saturday January 28th is my HIP HOP YOGA class at Charm City Yoga Midtown. Click here for more info!
Life can be found only in the present moment. The past is gone, the future is not yet here, and if we do not go back to ourselves in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life. ~Thich Nhat Hanh
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