Yoga = Self-Love

Yoga is self-love. ~ Swami Dayananda

On this day of oneness, I was inspired when I found the quote above in my yoga meditations calendar. This easily became the theme for three of my classes today. The fourth class was Yoga 101. I have a set theme of awareness for the first day of this class. I see these two, self-love and awareness, as blending very well. In order to offer self-love, I must first be aware of when I am not and how I can offer it to myself. An awareness of how each thought, action or word feels for me brings a realization of which is loving.

I love to watch students progress from their first yoga class to many and see the awareness grow. In myself I have seen the way I would sometimes push myself into a posture for the sake of getting to where I thought I should be. Now I see that I take my time and offer my body space to explore each posture in the way that feels best in that moment. If my body says no to something in some way, then I lovingly back off and accept where I am in that moment... knowing that it changes, sometimes within a few deep breaths. 

I find that when I gently enter a posture and take the time to let my body adjust to it, my body is much more likely to go deeper into the posture or at least to enjoy where it is. With force comes reaction or counter force. Since mind and body are one, it's best when they both agree about where to be. Oh how this can be brought off the mat in so many ways! I love yoga for that and so much more. For the self-love that it is I am grateful. Which reminds me... with all the teaching today, I have yet to find my own practice. A gentle bed-time practice will be my act of self-love tonight. Tell me what you love about yoga :)

Core assets... self-love and awareness... in no particular order.