How Yoga Changed My Life
"Every single person has within an ocean of pure vibrant consciousness. Every single human being can experience that - infinite intelligence, infinite creativity, infinite happiness, infinite energy, infinite dynamic peace." - David Lynch
When I do yoga, I feel infinite.
It is rather funny to think I used to despise going to yoga. I found it slow and boring. In fact, the silence and serenity was SO unbearable that I would oftentimes bust out into uncontrollable laughter. I would like to go back in time and give myself a big punch in the face for being an immature goon. (Namaste.)
How I Started Practicing Yoga
It all started my third year of college, when I interned at a small designer boutique. The owner of the boutique also owned a hot yoga studio in the town square, so she recruited me to run the online media for both the boutique and yoga studio. My one perk for being free help was that I had access to unlimited yoga. The timing was perfect….It was the first week of January so obviously one of my resolutions was "to get in shape".
One day of yoga a week turned into three which turned into five to six days a week of hot vinyasa flow practice. My passion was ignited and I saw such a transformation in my physical self as much as my mental state of mind. Yoga was no longer a workout to me - it was a way of living. My yoga practice began to embody the life I never knew I had waiting for me.
So, What Is Yoga?
Yoga is not about how flexible you are. It isn't about how well you can balance while holding yourself upside down on one arm. Yoga IS a personal journey - only you know how far you have come and where you are headed. How do you feel on the inside? If you feel inspired, enlightened and reborn after an invigorating yoga class and you feel empowered to finally make changes in your life, then that is what yoga is about.
For me, yoga can mean so many things but one truth I always come back to is living mindfully. Through yoga my journey into clean eating, natural skincare, coconuts and Om & The City emerged. Yoga introduced me to a world of self-care, body-positivity, wellbeing and so much more that I’m now able to share with all of you!
Give It a Try!
If you’ve never gone to a yoga class, give it a try - why not! Or you can even try out some of these beginner poses just in your room. Be patient with yourself as you ease into a steady practice because if you stick with it, I promise it’ll transform you.
*I want to hear how your yoga practice has inspired you - what challenges have you overcome through your practice and what do you hope to accomplish in this year through yoga?*
