🧘‍♀️ What a Year of Yoga Taught Me

It’s official: I’ve been showing up on the mat once a week, every week, since last October! And I’ve noticed some genuinely positive shifts that I had to share with my favourite people.

I remember how I felt a year ago. I was carrying some extra happy relationship weight and was a dress size larger than I’d ever been. Honestly, I just didn’t feel like myself. I was smack in the middle of my limbo era, totally consumed by wedding stress instead of bridal bliss.

The Power of the Purple Pod

I chose Yoga, and not just because it was accessible. This practice has actually been a consistent anchor for me during tough times. Years ago, when a previous relationship ended and I moved back home, I found comfort in a small village class with my dad and a wonderful teacher named Sunflower.

It was more than just stretching; it gave me permission to stop. It allowed me to assess my body and watch my worries and concerns flow in and out of my mind, like I was floating on a river boat. I could approach those thoughts with a curious but distant perspective, they weren’t me, they were just thoughts passing by. (And getting that quality time with Dad was a huge bonus!)

Fast forward to last year, and I decided to try the hot pod version. For the uninitiated: Hot Pod is yoga done in a big, heated, purple inflatable tent. The heat is designed to help you melt into the exercise. Yes, you will get extremely sweaty. But girl, the endorphins you get afterwards are simply unbeatable!

My view from inside the pod

Finding Your Vibe (and Your Violet)

I’ve found that yoga truly depends on the teacher, and I am ridiculously lucky to have found a few teachers I really click with. Zara and Violet, specifically, have such a wonderful, energetic, yet spiritual vibe. Because of them, the exercise doesn't feel like a dreaded chore; it feels rewarding, even fun.

I would recommend yoga to anyone, but making sure you find the right teacher for your spirit is key. They say "when you know, you know" and that phrase definitely goes for yoga teachers! Find the one who makes the sweat feel worth it.

The Real Takeaways

Overall, my year of showing up on the mat has taught me three incredible things:

* Strength and Discipline: I've lost that extra dress size (and more!), but more importantly, I found a discipline I didn't know I was capable of.

* Permission to Pause: It forces me to make time to stop and smell the roses, or at least, stop and feel my feet firmly planted on the mat.

* The Commitment Win: I'm the queen of giving up hobbies when they stop offering value. But for some reason, I’ve actually stuck with yoga.

So if I, the reigning champion of giving up, can stick at it for a whole year, you absolutely can, too! Find your pod, find your teacher, and find your flow.