Pillars of Yoga

I have been extremely blessed to come across the yoga path in my life. The different aspects of the yoga system have fortified me and healed me in so many ways. Some of the pillars of yoga are: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, a vegetarian diet, positive thinking, and meditation.

Meditation practice was my entry to the path of yoga in 1996. I have been practicing consistently for 25 years. Meditation helps me to quiet my mind and live more from the space of my heart. Meditators notice that with a balanced mind, we can stay more in control of our thoughts and emotions.

Positive thinking was my second step into yoga when I became a certified life-coach in 2006. In my training, we learned about how we create and attract the various aspects of our life with our thoughts. Training ourselves in positive thinking allows us to experience more wisdom and inner peace over time.

In 2007, I completed my yoga teacher training in which I learned about proper exercise (yoga asanas), proper breathing, and proper relaxation. Yoga asanas help to tone the nervous system, improve circulation, release tension, increase flexibility, and build strength. Yoga breathing techniques help to rejuvenate the body and mind. And learning to retrain the mind and muscles with guided relaxation techniques give the body the opportunity to recharge. I practice yoga about 5-6 times per week. I love that peaceful feeling after the practice is complete. Yoga practice is true self-care.

Lastly, I was mostly vegetarian since starting my meditation practice many years ago. After I became vegan in 2019, I really began to notice dramatic changes in my body, complexion, health, state of mind, and overall energy level. Vegetarian was good, but vegan is much better. I have found this way of eating makes me feel great and helps me to live my life with a lot of energy from the power of all those plants!

At the end of the day, yoga is about finding happiness and stability within ourselves. I feel so grateful to the path of yoga for helping me to build these routines into my life. And the biggest blessing is that it is not just about me. Now I have the opportunity to teach others how to find more balance, health, happiness, and stability as well.