Have you ever wondered what Yoga actually is? Or have you ever wondered about the benefits of Yoga? Well I am here now to help those who want it to have a better understanding of what Yoga is and how it can benefit you.
To start this journey I would like to give you a bit of my history/backround. My name is Emily and I am a Registered Massage Therapist, Reiki Practitioner and Yoga Teacher. I have a love for nature, and healing from within. I started my learning for Massage back in 2008, after completeing my first year I needed to take a step back from my studies as I became a mom, first to one and then my second came along. I worked odd jobs here and there from retail to fast food and new that there had to be more for me. Long story short, I decided to go back to school when my youngest started kindergarten as I wanted to show not only them, yet myself, that no matter the road you take or where it goes, you can always get your education. I graduated with my diploma for Massage in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
Upon graduating I worked in a multidisciplinary clinic. I learned more about myself during that time and what I wanted to see and do. I decided to take my Reiki Training during that time, I wanted to add more to what I could do for my clients and myself. In August of 2021 I started Serene Intution. I wanted to be independent and utilize what I had learned. Through all of it, I had been a student of Yoga. With yoga I was able to grow more confidence and inner peace. I practiced first with videos I could find of people doing yoga and I thought that it was just about the poses, boy was I wrong.
Yoga truly is a whole mind/body/spirit practice. It connects us in ways that are endless and gives us hope. Yoga is not just about the poses or how long you can hold them, its about connecting your breath, stilling your mind, meditation, peace, balance from not only within yourself but with others around you.
Going from a student of yoga to becoming a teacher of yoga has been a grand journey in itself. I have learned that it is not about finding the perfect pose, it is more about listening to what your body is telling you. Its ok if you can't do a headstand, or you can't fully get down on the ground to stretch. Listen to what your body tells you and go as far as what feels right to you, you don't need to push your limits. In time with practice you will find that the poses get easier, and each day something that seemed unattainable will now be attainable.
Yoga is a self discipline, and it take practice and patience, not only with yourself but with those around you. I have found that when I take even just 2 minutes to find my breath and concentrate on it that I have been calmer, been more attuned to what is happening around me, and have been better equipped to handle what life throws at me. Be mindful of yourself and those around you, see the light when there is darkness.
Some of the benefits that I have seen in my practice have been becoming more aware of my surroundings, being more calm in situations that in the past whould have upset me. I have noticed more of a balance from within myself to where I can hold some poses a bit longer, or stretch a bit further. I have noticed that I may not be as stressed as I once was, an inner peace to the turbulant outter world so to speak.
This has been my journey with yoga and I am hopeful that when you choose to start that you will see a change even sublty within yourself.
