My Experience on What Yoga Teaches Us
Yoga is a beautiful and enlightening practice with the potential of benefits for your mind and body. Why? Well, yoga is technically exercise, and it also promotes a state of mental clarity. Living in the present moment. Experiencing mindfulness. Breathwork for reducing stress. I have been practicing yoga for close to 30 years. In the beginning of my practice, in my teenage years, I kind of ‘got it’, well, kind of. Breathe and go through the moments. Strength and flexibility followed. I was hooked instantly and just could not get enough. I started doing yoga regularly, and back then it was more of a fitness tool to help me stay in shape. But what I didn’t realize, at the time, is the effect it had on me personally, on my life, my thoughts, and the way my brain worked. And for this, everyone is unique and will encounter their own journey, benefits, and opportunities. We each take our own personal practice and make it our own.
My experience left me a bit vulnerable, when I finally realized how yoga transformed me. Helping me listen to the voice in my head. The internal dialogue of how I solve problems, find clarity, prepare for situations, and display empathy and ‘feel’ for others. I refer to this shift as subtle realizations over time. I am not sure exactly when this realization first happened; reflecting more of a continuous journey as opposed to an instant and immediate shift. The journey to finding balance. The awareness of what I need vs not. The understanding of how I fit into the universe and what I bring to the table. There is where yoga has made an impact to my life. The value of taking what I learn on the mat, including the pause associated with collecting my thoughts before the next movement, to the external world.
I encourage people to find their own yoga version or variation that works for them. There are plenty of different styles of yoga, from gentle and restorative, to hot and intense. But even outside of movement, yoga is anything that brings us to the present. Allowing us to absorb the marvels of nature without continuous overthinking or judgement. It could be meditation, sitting on the beach with a clear mind and open heart, or a mindful meditiation of movement as you go about your day. Whatever type of yoga calls to you, or which type of yoga finds you, be intentional. If you make the time to be there, be all there in mind and body. Perhaps keep a journal of experiences or how you feel. What you learned and what ‘old’ thoughts or ideas you release for growth. Letting go of what no longer serves you and the ‘who’ you are becoming. Look for those subtle shifts in your befores and afters. And when you commit to the experience, keep an open mind of where your yoga practice can bring you.
Wishing you peace, love, and happiness, Nancy