It’s pretty likely, since just about everyone who practiced yoga has been touched in some way by its transformative power. For me, my body feels better and stronger, I radiate from within and I truly love every minute on my mat. My mind always runs in 100 different directions. I tend to either dwell on past moments and wonder what could have been, or have so many ideas for the future that the ideas paralyze me and I don’t end up getting anything done.

I went to my first yoga class about 3 years ago in hopes of stilling my mind and opening up to the universe. I viewed it as more of a mental and physical detox for my body, and mind. During my first class I noticed that I was falling out of poses and postures while everyone stood fierce and focused. So much so that I left the class feeling more energized than when I walked in. I was engaged and driven to make the best of that class and to stay rooted in the class.

I was hooked. I realized that yoga, while sometimes having a stigma as an obnoxious, main-streamed way of trying to be spiritual is at its core, a very powerful tool that allows us to tap into our inner spiritual and physical potential. When I was in one of my first classes the words, “Every day, in every way, I am stronger” were instilled in me till this day and I think of those words every time I practice.

Even as yoga has, in many places, morphed into a type of physical activity, I found that it has influenced my perspective of the type of person I want to be and how I live my life. Throughout the years of practicing yoga I have begun to feel like it is so much more than just your physical practice. It’s about growing from within and rising up stronger than the day before.

All the flexibility and space you create in each posture is also found within yourself. The more you open your heart (literally and figuratively), the more open you are to receiving and giving love and energy to those around you.

Here are some of my biggest takeaways from yoga, thus far:

Release to receive.

In yoga postures, you often breathe into the pain or tension of a pose. While this can initially cause discomfort, the more you lean into the pose head on, the easier the pose becomes in the long run.

It creates more space, it releases tension in that area of the body, and it makes you feel as if you let something go. In life, sometimes we are unable to love to our fullest because we hold on to something that no longer serves us or brings us happiness.

Love yourself.

In our society we can often be really hard on ourselves when we don't get something right away or when we do something wrong, etc. We all need to show ourself more self love in order for others to love us. We place so many mental and physical demands on our bodies and then beating ourselves up for not eating well or not being productive enough or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time.

Yoga helped me see that the only life over which I have direct control is my own. The person I spend the most time with is myself. I should be kind to myself and love myself in order to be able to love other people to the best of my ability.

When you start to open yourself up with self love, everything else will fall into place.

All the flexibility and strength you need is inside of you, waiting to be used.

I hear so many people say, "I'm so bad at yoga" or "I could never do a headstand" or "I'm not flexible enough." Six months ago I couldn't hold my headstand for longer than 5 seconds, but with practice and patience I got it down.

Yoga is not about being good enough or naturally flexible or mastering the "awesome looking" poses, its about being committed to showing up every day and challenging your body and doing the best YOU can.

Namaste!!!

Not only has yoga brought me closer to my inner self, but it has helped me learn how to slow down and experience every sensation, with all of my senses. Most importantly it helps me strip away my ego (a constant work in progress) and truly connect with others around me. It also helps me feel more connected to myself and those around me where it is often easy to feel along in the bustle and stress of our daily lives.