Yoga can be accessible, welcoming and even fun (you might even laugh in my classes).
- Everyone can practice some form of Yoga (despite what the media shows you)
- You don’t have to be ‘woo-woo’ or ‘granola’ to practice Yoga
- You don’t need to be young, female, fit or flexible to practice Yoga
- You don’t need fancy Lululemon pants (in fact, I would rather you didn’t) to practice Yoga
- Yoga is not a ‘workout’ it’s a ‘work-in’
You see, I teach Yoga for MisFits. GenXers (and sometimes Y) who don’t feel at home in mainstream Yoga circles: alternative folks, the rebels, underdogs, introverts, geeks and bookworms.
As a Yoga Therapist, my specialty is helping people with Back Pain and Anxiety.
Wanna know a secret? On a much deeper level ….
I Believe Yoga can change the world.
I know, I know you’re likely rolling your eyes right now but hear me out.
Yoga doesn’t change the world in a loud, flashy, heroic way. Like a protest or a rally. But rather slowly, quietly, one person and one breath at a time.
I Believe
In life, there is suffering. Physical pain, anxiety, heartbreak and grief.
Not to mention the stress of our daily lives, living in a society that praises productivity above all else.
We are constantly rushing from one thing to the next. Rarely do we slow down to catch our breath and be with ourselves, to rest.
This leaves us feeling like:
- We are always on our last nerve.
- Often in persistent pain, physically, mentally and emotionally.
- Which leaves us disconnected from ourselves, our loved ones, our community and the world at large.
When we are struggling with this human ‘Brutiful’ (beautiful and brutal) life, and we don’t have the tools and skills to care deeply for ourselves, it’s tough to give a shit about anything or anyone else.
I Believe
Most people want to be kind humans.
But, how can we possibly be a kind human to others when we aren’t being a kind human to ourselves?
Most of us were not taught (I know I wasn’t) the skills to care deeply for ourselves.
We haven’t learned how to care for our persistent pain. We haven’t learned to ground and anchor, to care for our body, mind and hearts.
So we go through the world reacting instead of responding to life and those around us.
We live an unskillful life, stressed, anxious, confused and forlorn.
We feel alone, disconnected from ourselves, others and the earth. It’s like we are walking through life in a haze.
On a societal level, this leads to feelings of separation, divisiveness and ‘othering’ people.
This leads to us becoming unkind humans
I Believe
Yoga is a quiet revolution.
Regular Yoga practice (which is a lot more than making funny shapes with your body) gives time and tools.
Tools like:
- Breathing techniques (pranayama)
- Mantras (Intentional sacred words)
- Mudras (for the energy pathways of our bodies)
- Meditation (for calm and focus of our minds)
So, making funny shapes with your body while helpful for strength and flexibility (which are awesome) is only one small part of Yoga.
I Believe
When you practice Yoga regularly you take time to rest and care for yourself.
Then we take this rested, grounded, resilient self (your true nature) out in the world when we aren’t on our Yoga mats.
This means we then have more patience, acceptance and kindness to give to others.
I Believe
- Yoga teaches us to care for ourselves so that we can care for others.
- Yoga teaches us to respond instead of react in tough times.
- Yoga teaches us to see how things really are and to use our critical thinking.
- Yoga teaches us that we are more alike than different.
- Yoga teaches us to be Kind Humans.
This is why I Believe Yoga can change the world and this is why I teach Yoga.