I’ve been thinking a lot about why I practice yoga and not just do aerobics, or run, or lift weights. While I do these types of exercises, and enjoy them and know they are beneficial for my body, nothing feels as good to me as my yoga practice.

What I’m beginning to realize (or maybe knew all along, and it’s just coming to light right now), is that while my yoga practice is often movement-based, it is rooted in breath, awareness, curiosity, reflection and kindness in a way that those other movement practices aren’t. And, while I do feel that I bring the above-mentioned qualities to those practices, they aren’t at the heart of them the way they are in my yoga practice.

I look to my yoga practice as a place to center my attention inward and find the quiet spaces within. Sometimes my practice is more fun and playful and sometimes it’s more challenging an enlivening, and of course, there are times when it’s slow, gentle, and restorative,  but it’s always introspective, observational and experiential… a “work in”, if you will.

In essence, I practice to be with myself, to connect with my moment-to-moment experiences, and to replenish myself.  Even though the work I do as a yoga teacher needs me to be extroverted, I’m a very introverted person, so being on my mat, moving and breathing mindfully, tending to myself with care is my way to refuel so I can be in the world in a present and attentive way.

Why do you practice yoga? And, why do you keep coming back to this practice?  Email me, I’d love to know!

Check out my schedule of classes and videos for more movement practices!