Self Practice & Acceptance

Finding time for self practice is something I’ve found hard to juggle since I started teaching, so much of mu focus goes on planning & researching for classes, working on how to teach poses and researching variations for ay of my students who have come to me with specific problems that I find I often put myself and my own progression to the bottom of the list.

This is something I find reflected in my own life and a lesson I think my yoga practice is teaching me, I have a strong tendency to throw myself energetically into other peoples projects, whether it my full time job or making time for others & can forget to make time for myself.

Very early on in my yoga journey I found that my physical yoga practice was a way of meditating, quietening my thoughts and finding balance. The same still stands years later and I still have to remind myself each day to take the time to practice on something for me! Although I love class planing and figuring out what fun things to do with my students I make the time to throw in some personal development and practice. For such a long time I focused completely on teaching and working out how to teach, however when I take the time to focus on my own practice my teaching natural becomes easier.

Time for the self is often one of the many spelling benefits that draws people to the mat for their very first practice, or even the thing that brings them back after a few years away – finding time to keep this up is so important. It’s the part of yoga that allows us to move deeper, deeper within ourselves deeper into our practice, whether progressing from a supported inversion to doing it in the centre of the room or letting yourself go in savasana an truly surrendering and being open.

My self practice – savasana changes from day to day – as does the body – when I first started yoga it would be working on something my teacher had showed us in class, improving my flexibility or strength – now I feel open and accepting enough to let me practice sometimes be softer – simple meditation and slow vinyasa flow rather than full force. The beauty of yoga is that you practice is a journey, ever evolving and changing – surrendering to the flow of life allows you to be more open and receptive to what the body needs, in turn helping to nourish the mind.

There is so much amazing inspiration around now that even if you’re unsure with how to approach a daily practice, 5 minuets scrolling online through youTube or Instagram you can find beginner yoga flows from some of the most coveted teachers (it’s like your very own private practice) yogi challenges and progression plans opening up different and new poses in a fun and interactive way.

The next time you fancy a bit of yoga but can’t make a class – take time to roll out the mat and surrender to your needs find your flow and enjoy!

Namaste Yogis

Sophie