Big personal and professional news here --> I'm thrilled to announce that I've obtained my 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification through Yogamu, a significant addition to my wellness coaching expertise. This journey spanned a couple of years, including a hiatus for the arrival of baby, but I persevered and am now officially a certified yoga teacher.
My journey with yoga started as a mere addition to my fitness routine, a way to stretch and diversify my workouts. Admittedly, I was initially skeptical of yoga, and it didn't resonate with me and I was almost short of despising it - the quietude, the calmness, the stillness. It felt foreign, not matching my pace, energy, or preferences of movement style. I was always like when is this going to be over, definitely not being in the present moment, leaving before Savasna because I had better more productive things to do. However, my perspective has undergone a profound shift since then, through dedicated training and delving deeper into my practice I've come to realize that yoga isn't just about the physical postures or the workout; it's about grounding oneself on the mat, embracing stillness, being fully present in the moment, and recognizing the profound healing power of yoga for both individuals and the world.
I've found from personal experience that in our fast-paced world, we've distorted yoga into another fitness routine, focusing on burning calories and achieving physical strength. While these may be positive side effects, the essence lies in the mindful connection between mind and body, acknowledging the breath, observing muscle movements, and embracing the energy and magic surrounding us.
Yoga, for me, transcends physical flexibility or the ability to hold challenging poses. It's about aligning my mind, body, and soul with the natural rhythms of the earth. This practice has bestowed stillness upon me and brought clarity into my life.
Practicing yoga outdoors has truly transformed my experience. I sense a profound alignment with the essence of yoga when surrounded by the natural world. In this harmonious connection, as I flow through poses, there's a reciprocal flow with nature. Being present outdoors is a sensory delight – a moment to listen, look, smell, taste, and touch. I firmly believe that the potency of yoga is maximized when practiced outdoors, fostering a reconnection with the art of noticing – listening to the world, feeling its energies, and appreciating the surrounding magic.
"Where tree meets sky is the spaciousness of yoga. Where tree connects with earth is the groundedness of yoga. Where tree stands in space is the peaceful centeredness of yoga. The tree stands at the center of its own circle, and daily life rotates around it. Trees connect us to the changing seasons and to life itself. When we connect with trees, we connect with earth, air, fire, and water. Spending time around them is healing and they help us recover from illness and reduce our stress levels.”
— Yoga Through the Year: A Seasonal Approach to Your Practice by Jilly Shipway
To me yoga is meditation in movement, where the union of breath and body becomes a source of presence and awareness, allowing us to connect to our true divine essence. I try to find small bite-sized ways to integrate yoga into my daily life - asking myself what is the benefit of practicing yoga in this moment.
So in this not-so-brief expose I am very excited to share my practice with my community and how to continue to be on the path of equanimity and equilibrium.
Stoke Coach is Now Officially Yoga Certified