If you practice yoga, what is yoga to you?
For me, yoga is an opportunity for me to create a connection between my inner guide (our creative voice of intuition) and my body. It teaches me that my body is a container of love. Our minds are like the balance scales we used in science class: they need to be recalibrated. We witness fear all over the place in our daily lives and it is really important to find tools that allow us to recalibrate our minds. Yoga is an epic re-calibrator! When we recalibrate our minds, we reach our “flow state.” In our flow state, we’re operating according to our voice of intuition. Anything else feels unauthentic – because is not your authentic truth.
Today, I flowed into a supported headstand for the first time!
Usually, I do a headstand with my feet on the ground. For the past two weeks, I’ve been lifting one leg at a time, trying to get the opposite leg to stand comfortably on its tip toes without tension. On Monday, it became easy. No tension; just flow. Today, it felt very natural to lift one leg and bring them both to rest gently on the wall.
I love learning to move my body with my breath. We can always go deeper there, and that’s why I look forward to yoga every day. It’s a new opportunity to notice something different. Physically, every practice is totally different because I become more in-tune with how I’m working different muscles, as I notice them move with more ease.
I’m somewhat of a newbie, as I’ve been practicing regularly for just shy of three months. The key thing is that I’ve been practicing regularly. In November, my voice of intuition was like, “Girl, it’s time for a change! Get on your mat every morning and see what happens!” It has become part of me now. If I don’t practice yoga and meditation, I know that I will be less connected and feel unauthentic. That means I can’t show up for the good stuff in my life in the best way, and I can’t serve others, which is our main purpose. So, yoga and meditation are here to stay. HOLLA!
So, what did I learn from doing a headstand? I learned that flow is all I need. Sure, doing a headstand is cool but the real cool thing is knowing that I can breathe easily through all of the uncomfortable stuff that might come up in my life. We can have flow even in times that seem like a setback – if we just recognize that where we are right now is where we are meant to be.
You are where you are meant to be.
Now, I’m dying to know: How do you channel your flow state? Comment, Tweet, and Instagram it with the #jadorelavie hash tag. Let’s celebrate our flow states tomorrow!!!
Stay lovely,
Heather
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Kiiiiinda freaking out right now. Yesterday I was texting my mom about going with the flow. Seriously. I’ll send you the screenshot. I’m so proud of you for getting into that headstand! Makes me want to practice more regularly (I definitely can’t say I do). And just like you said here and on my post today – we can have flow when we have a setback. We can flow through the discomfort and move forward to that #jadorelavie state. You read my mind as usual.
#sisters. efffing love you.
congrats on the supported headstand!! We talk about this in yoga class all the time, it’s crazy how each day you can get a little bit closer to a certain pose, and one day you have an “ah ha” moment and everything comes together. My best days on the mat happen when I am really present, concentrating on my breath, and letting go of all expectations. It also helps to visualize your body in the pose while getting into it. and I love what you say yoga is to you. Yoga literally means “to yoke” the body and mind or “union” between body and mind. I can’t wait to read more about your yogi journey and see where it leads you!
such an amazing, thoughtful comment amy. love you, sister!
Wooo. Your yoga practice has really turned your mindset and it’s a beautiful thing to see. Plus look at that handstand you rock! Did you know I actually broke my foot doing a handstand haha. Yah, it doesn’t sound possible, but somehow I made it happen. I’m so awesome. I really need to work on my yoga, it’s something I always want to get involved in but find myself getting bored. I do love pilates though! I love the last statement, right now is where we need to be! Yep, couldn’t be more true than that!
YOU ROCK! xo
If we break anything during yoga, it’s usually a sign that we’re pushing too hard and/or our minds are clouded with anxiety. Now that you’re meditating more frequently, I’m sure that your yoga practice now would be so incredibly different, babe!!!
Ah, so happy to see you rocking the flow! I’m just getting into my yoga practice, but I love hearing Tara Stiles talk about doing what feels good to you and not pushing it. That has been one of my issues when trying yoga in the past, so I’m for sure going with the flow on this one! Not too close to a headstand, but crow pose I got.
Crow pose? AWESOME, chica. Keep up your flow state! In the ease of yoga, we tap into all the good stuff.
This is awesome! I’m just getting into yoga (I’ve been going a few days a week for a couple of months now) and I love that every so often, it all just clicks and you’re able to do something that you haven’t done before. That feeling of accomplishment after working so hard at a pose for days on end is probably the best part of yoga, and what makes it so mentally gratifying.
Perfect explanation, Sarah. It really does just click one day and is so effortless…that’s what’s so beautiful about it huh? xo
wohoo soo awesome!!
YOU’RE AWESOME!
yay congrats!!! you are so amazing!!
key thing is that I’ve been practicing regularly –> exactly! Michelle and I hope to do just that, practice it more, because like you we like the mind-body-soul connection we have when we do it!
Aww thank you so much Lori!!! Coming from you, that really does mean so much to me. Love our mutual goal of MORE yoga and MORE ease. <3
Wow, that’s impressive you can do a headstand like that with only practicing yoga for 3 months. I really need to get better about doing yoga. I feel great when I do it but yet I don’t make it a priority. To me yoga is about opening up, stretching out, getting loose, and clearing your mind and making space for the important things in your life. Like you said, you can breathe your way through any challenges life brings you. Plus, a rush of blood to the head from an inversion feels so good!
My go to “go with the flow” activity is surfing. Being in the ocean always calms me down and brings me back to me. When I don’t go in the water for awhile I feel cranky and irritated. I think that’s how people feel about yoga. Everyone should find their “go with the flow” activity in life. The world would be a much better place!
Yesss that rush of blood is amazing! So centering. I’ve always wanted to surf – what a blessing that you can access the waves whenever you feel like it! Teach me sometime, sister?
LOVE head/handstand pix!!!
I totally thought of you, Linz! You’re my got-to headstand girl!
So awesome! I too am making room for yoga every week as it helps center me, calm my mind and bring me to a place of “OK” and serenity. That’s incredible that you challenged yourself & brought your body into a headstand. Just goes to show that small changes (a little yoga every day) pays off BIG!
You got it, girl! Small changes lead up to big ones! <3
Amazing!!
Just like YOU!
Love that quote! & Beautiful supported handstand.
Yoga saved my life and is a huge part of my life.<3
Practicing Bikram everyday allows me to be at peace & channel my flow.
Ahh Bikram! YES. It’s such a release. <3
Way to go, girl! In the past year I’ve really started to embrace yoga, and especially practicing with Tara Stiles and her outlook has really helped me open my mind and body. I used to take yoga SO seriously, I used to think that I had to concentrate hard in order to achieve anything. But I have found that that is exactly the opposite of what I need – to let go.
Letting go and trusting my body is far from intuitive, but I have learned that my body can tell me far more than I ever knew. If I’m not meant to balance in a crow pose, than it just might not happen that day. Some days the flow comes easier than others, you just have to make time for it every day and hopefully, eventually it becomes habit.
<3
Beautifully said, Rachel. I love this. SO true. I’m so glad that you’ve found peace in yoga.