I recently entered a contest to win a copy of Carol Horton’s new book Yoga Ph.D. on It’s All Yoga Baby (IAYB). To enter, IAYB asked readers to answer the question “What is yoga to you?” in the comments. I answered straight from my heart. Completely in the moment:
Yoga is space. Space to linger in love, space to breathe and act from a place of love rather than reacting in fear. Yoga is a way of being–seeing god in all people, things, experiences. Yoga is dissolving the separation between us.
And I believe those words. I also believe every other of the 40-some answers that were given. Completely different from my own. After 16 years of devoted practice, I know that the paths are many. We all make our way in our way.
Yoga does not offer us some quick-fix to the struggles of being human, but is rather an invitation to a way of being. A way of experiencing life in all of its tiny-ness and vastness.
Elegant.
Compassionate.
Fascinated.
Thoughts that yoga inspires.
Yoga lets us hold the tiniest atom and the spaciousness of the universe at once.
Practically speaking, my practice involves meditating, chanting mantra, asana, reading and contemplating yoga philosophy, PRANAYAMAÂ (I capitalize this because I recently returned to a dedicated pranayama practice), surrendering to love, living yoga as often as I can, eating foods that honor my body as a vehicle for transformation. My practice is paying attention to my life as completely as possible.
What is yoga to you? What is your practice?
LOVE. kelly
Yoga is taking the time to re-claim your body and mind, by following the breath. Each awareness of breath, returns us to the truth about yourselves. We matter. Our existence has made the world better. We can fully embrace and notice in this moment, that will never change.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Blessings.
Yoga is taking the time to re-claim your body and mind, by following the breath. Each awareness of breath, returns us to the truth about yourselves. We matter. Our existence has made the world better. We can fully embrace and notice in this moment, that will never change.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
Blessings.
After years of struggling with a chronic illness, yoga is a way for me to transform my fear of my body into love and trust. Yoga is a way for me to change how I see myself from a weak, sick person to one who is growing stronger and healthier and finding balance. Yoga is a way for me to stop worrying about past and future and focus, simply, on right now.
Melisa, blessings! I am so glad you are on this journey. Thank you so much for sharing your story, your self here. Your words about transforming fear into trust are very powerful. They resonate deeply with me (and I know they will with others too). Much gratitude to you for being here.
Love and blessings, Kelly
After years of struggling with a chronic illness, yoga is a way for me to transform my fear of my body into love and trust. Yoga is a way for me to change how I see myself from a weak, sick person to one who is growing stronger and healthier and finding balance. Yoga is a way for me to stop worrying about past and future and focus, simply, on right now.
Melisa, blessings! I am so glad you are on this journey. Thank you so much for sharing your story, your self here. Your words about transforming fear into trust are very powerful. They resonate deeply with me (and I know they will with others too). Much gratitude to you for being here.
Love and blessings, Kelly