Go ahead. Talk to yourself.

If you've taken classes with me, you're familiar with my reference of not only listening to your body as you practice, tuning into how your body feels in order to know when to lean into your edge and when to ease up, but also I've talked about starting a dialogue with it. What does that even mean?

The yoga practice is about integrating our minds with our bodies. This helps us emotionally regulate and bring more awareness to our reactions and allow more room for responses instead. Emotional regulation has shown to be important for health, wellness, resiliency and people who have this ability seem to live happier lives. We use asana (physical postures), meditation and pranayama (breathwork) as vehicles to get there. We spend much of our days pushing through, "mind over matter," "nose down." "Work has to get done!" Yes, it does and we get used to numbing, disassociating to our feelings emotionally and physically to do it. That pace is often a trajectory toward disease and unrest. We certainly have work to do, but the manner by which we do it, makes every difference. Our mats provide a place of study to notice what is going on within our whole selves? What do we need today on our mats? What can we give onto ourselves? Can we create a platform by which to hear and listen to our answers? It's in the quieting of ourselves we take notice. As we begin to breathe with mindful intention, and we start to move our bodies as a moving meditation and each time we do that, week after week, we notice our energy and our attitudes and we begin to shift. Somedays we are tired and somedays we feel energetic and both days are acceptable and beautiful because we've made room for a kind and compassionate dialogue. Every day showing up to all of it authentically, is where we notice shift happening. :)