The older I get, I recognize more ways in which yoga has improved my daily life. One of which is breath control and the ability to focus and control my fears.
Since I was young, I have been trying to better myself, facing fears and stepping out of my comfort zone. Most of the time, these endeavors ended nicely but that did not mean there wasn’t real anxiety along the way. Continue Reading…
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have heard this said. But beauty is very much realized in our own minds as well. It’s confidence. And I admit, I am not one to preach confidence. I, too, struggle with many insecurities and misconceptions of my own self.
Continue Reading…
We’ve all felt the power of a yoga class, where not only the poses but the whole culture of the class transforms us to a sacred space. A space to find peace. A space to find stillness. A space to hear words and phrases you wouldn’t dare repeat in any other setting. Here are some I have collected recently.
Balance on your “sit-bones”
“Bow to the Earth”
“Squeeze your thighs tight, stimulating your reproductive organs.”
“Listen to your body”
“Draw a line of energy through your feet.”
“Try to push your knees into your armpits”
“Anchor your pubic bone.”
What are some funny phrases you’ve heard in a yoga class?
Recently I have been enjoying a good book: Meditation For the Love of It by Sally Kempton. While teaching me much about meditation and evoking a personal thirst for the practice myself, I am also learning to compare and contrast the philosophies of Buddhism and Christianity. The philosophy, as presented in the yoga culture, sounds beautiful and is in many ways. I find myself adopting quotes from their gurus that speak truth and inspiration into life. Continue Reading…
Your throat is dry and scratchy and you think you are going hoarse. Your eyes are dry and strained, your feet are throbbing, and you can’t remember the last time you were able to stop for even the bathroom. Stress. We have all experienced the tension of life, whether it is at home or at work. And we have all battled the effects it has on our bodies and our emotions.
I admit; it is really hard to make healthy choices when stressed. Continue Reading…
What do you see when you close your eyes? What do you hear in the silence? What is revealed when your breath becomes your only awareness? Having practiced meditation some myself, I am getting gradually better at it but there are two very different interpretations of meditation in my social circles. Continue Reading…
When the term “practice” is used for your yoga routine, it is appropriate in as many ways as I know. I have been doing yoga for five years and there are still so many things I cannot do. And yet there are a lot of things I can. Yoga is a life journey, a practice not only with poses but also with meditation and faith. We come to our mat because we have made a commitment to our disciplines.
Many come to me, discouraged, or sometimes just convinced from the beginning that they could never practice yoga. Continue Reading…
I, Bethany, am embarking on a personal challenge. I would like to achieve the ability to run. Why? You may ask. Isn’t yoga enough? Shouldn’t I be content with simply yoga? Yes. I am. But I also love the opportunity to develop new skills and disciplines.
(And it could also come in handy in the case of a zombie apocalypse.
We think about these sorts of things in our house.) Continue Reading…
You are familiar with the benefits of yoga. I am sure if you have been following my blog, as a resource, you have learned about lots of benefits. But hopefully, also, you have come to understand my passion for discernment and education when it comes to adopting the culture too. Continue Reading…
I love the pictures I see in The Yoga Journal. A young mom set in a shoulder stand, balancing her baby like a trapeze artist. Or a middle-aged mother gracefully flying in standing bow, her little girl stretching her limbs in the same manner. As a woman, hoping to have children of her own some day, these pictures tug at the sentimental heart in me. Continue Reading…
