Our bodies change and evolve. Consider how yoga can support the body you are inhabiting today. Learning to listen to your body can help you give it the support it needs (the support YOU need) through many phases of life.
People say that our bodies are metaphors. And that our bodies help us process emotions. The older I get, the more true this seems. Tuning into my body is tuning in to my self. In yoga philosophy, the physical practice of yoga is a way to access deeper layers of your self. (For more on that, look up The 5 Koshas, or read the amazing Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar.)
You do not need to seek freedom in a different land, for it exists with your own body, heart, mind, and soul.
― B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like I’ve lived in many versions of my body. A self-conscious teenage body. An adult body that’s known many sizes and weights. A pregnant body with a ravenous baby in the belly. A postpartum, relaxin-filled, breastfeeding body. A perimenopausal body with musculoskeletal glitches. And now, a menopausal body that feels more strong and balanced than ever—thanks to a year of weight training alongside consistent yoga.
My yoga practice has evolved as much as my body has. In my 30s, I was ambitious—both in my career and in achieving more challenging poses. During pregnancy and childbirth, the meditative aspects and breathwork were invaluable. As a busy mom, I craved Gentle Yoga to create space and grounding. In high-stress “sandwich generation” times, Restorative Yoga helped soothe my nervous system, so I could stay present and support others.
One of my teachers, now in her 80s, often reminds us to thank our bodies—to notice how lucky we are to simply be able to show up and move in whatever way works today.
Our bodies change every day, sometimes moment to moment. As a teacher now, I want to help you drop into your body. To notice, appreciate, and care for—maybe even love—the body you’re in right now.
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