I discovered yoga in my early 20’s , I have taken breaks from yoga over the years but about three years ago, I made a solid commitment to my practice and haven’t taken a break since.
For me, yoga fulfills all of my needs:
- To connect physically with my body
- To connect emotionally
- To connect spiritually
- To connect creatively
- To connect to nature
Yoga is an all-in-one practice.
It’s a workout, a meditation practice, and a spiritual practice all in one.
That is why I practice yoga every day. As I continue to practice and learn more about yoga and the mind-body connection, I find ways in which I apply yoga to other daily chores, like washing dishes, writing emails, or making business decisions. When I approach these daily tasks from a yogic sense, I am better at everything I do, because I am:
- Staying present in the moment
- Staying true to self
- Staying open and flexible
- Giving each task no matter how mundane, my full attention
- Approaching life with an open-heart
These are the tenets of yoga that I can bring off my mat and into my life.
Yoga helps me to feel more centered
and helps me to control my anxiety when daily stresses start to affect me.
Yoga is great because I can adjust my practice to my needs, both physically and emotionally. Some days I physically and/or emotionally need to get out energy, to calm my body and mind. On these days, I practice more vigorously, increasing my heart rate, matching my breath with my movement, warming my body and mind for more challenging postures. Other days I may have low energy, I honor my body and move slow, taking time with the stretches, tuning into my alignment and focusing on my breath. And still there are other times when I focus on strengthening my body, holding poses for longer periods of time to challenge my muscles and my mind to endure through difficult times.
Yoga is a practice that I never tire of, it is a creative outlet for me too. Stringing together asana as a poet strings together words. Flowing through a sequence in rhythm with my breath like a dancer. I move from posture to posture without much thought, letting my body tell me what it needs in each moment.
I especially enjoy practicing outdoors, in nature. To connect with nature through movement and breath is a real treat. I take the time to tune into all of my senses when I am outside:
- Feel the wind on my cheek
- Smell the pine trees
- Take in the majestic back side of Monhegan Island
- Taste the salt air on my tongue
- Listen to the pounding surf as the ocean meets the rocks
I feel nourished through my senses and by the experience.
Yoga is the practice that helped me most to adopt a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. Yoga keeps me on track both physically and emotionally, that is why I practice daily, even if 15 minutes is all the time I have. These are the reasons I share the practice of yoga with others, my hope is to invoke the same emotional connections and positive benefits for others, so that they too can experience the power of yoga in their life.
Tara Hire is a nutrition and weight-loss consultant, coaching busy women to achieve the happy, healthy life they deserve. She integrates yoga science and philosophy into her teaching because of the many benefits she has experienced from her practice.
She coaches women remotely via Skype or phone. From May to October she leads wellness retreats on beautiful Monhegan Island, Maine the place she has called home for over 15 years.
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