Releasing Your Personal Story with Yoga


Many begin their yoga practice for physical purposes, which may include wanting to know when to do yoga, and some aspirations similar to achieving their headstand, or handstand. However, Balancing your life has nothing to do with standing on your head, but showing up for yourself, is the most rewarding thing that you can do as an opportunity for a re-connection and commitment to becoming less hard on yourself.

Primarily connecting to ourselves, through the bending and twisting in Yoga, we're actually building process and compassion for our struggles. As a result, I believe that we begin to realize the value in our efforts, and ways to use them as a path to the strengths that we already have.

When concerned about maintaining the athleticism of rigorous flows as the aches that come with age occur, I encourage students against ending their yoga 'careers'.  Instead, I suggest —

modifying practice, starting again, or trading that power yoga class in for one that doesn't beat your body up as bad. There are many ways and HUGE benefits of self-care, that includes personal joy and accomplishment for the long haul for a full, and able practice.

My last cohort of 14 amazing women learned how the 8 Limb structure and road map works as a checklist and outline towards building more trust, confidence and better balance for themselves. By allowing substantial concepts to be infused in how we move through the world, we can establish a foundation for becoming stronger in our body and mind— while bringing a simplicity to the yoga practice that offers deep clarity and reasoning for less stress, and calm.

The parts of yoga explained is a profound connection to others, and to yourself. Deepening your connection in breath and movement empowers the compassionate look at you, which is required to stand in your own power, and expand your understanding of how yoga can benefit you well beyond your mat. The act of spending time getting real with, and looking inside yourself is the practice. 

Free yourself from your old stories. Consider where you're really at. Stop obsessing about your ability, or inability to stand on your head— get a little out of it and stand into your heart instead.

Teri Gandy-Richardson