do what you love
do what feels good and right to you
don’t care about people
and what they might think
their thoughts, not yours
their issues, not yours
free yourself from judgement
be real
feed your soul
do what you love
Author: Kathrin
What does yoga teach me?
When I applied for my 200hrs teacher training, I didn’t expect to become a yoga teacher. My aim was to just fully immerse into all aspects of yoga. Jump into the sea of yoga, swim and dive, all day long, every day. I went to India full of fear and self-doubts – I’m too old, my asana practice is not good enough, I won’t pass the exam…. And finally I didn’t had much time to think about these doubts, I just did it. It was tough, but I enjoyed every single second. I came back as a teacher, teaching 2 classes per week since then. And I can’t believe it, I LOVE teaching.
Yes, I prepare my classes, but I allow myself to be flexible, add things or remove, change the plan on the ride, just following my students and the energy of the day. I surprised myself, I didn’t know that I can do this. I didn’t know that it’s easy to not comparing myself to other teachers, but just give the best I can and let it flow.
No, it’s not about having a huge experience, but a matter of confidence. Let love guide me, breathe, smile, get soft and just do whatever feels right in this moment. Then my mind is doing yoga. Priceless.
So, what does yoga teach me?
In 3 words: TO LET GO. Let go of everything. Expectations, limitations. Emptying myself and forget about everything I know. Because all my learnings are within, in my cells. They will guide me anyhow, without me even be aware of them. Allowing my knowledge, experience and intuition to merge; this is exactly what makes me act authentic, following my own truth.
By the way: this doesn’t stop when leaving the mat!
Yoga in all its gorgeousness has got me hooked. Going back to India next year for my 500hrs teacher training. Another chapter to start. Sooooo excited!
No limits
Give yourself permission to dream beyond our wildest imaginations
Turn your world upside down
Allow yourself to remove all boundaries
Stop limiting yourself
Trust, everything is possible
Let your mind be beautiful
Create space
Forgive
Let go
Be bold
Be awesome
Be love
Cleansing through asanas
I felt quite bad today — sad, worrying and a headache was trying to tempt me to just lay down on the sofa. My mat seemed far away, when I told myself, I’ll feel much better after practicing. So I did. Went to my mat, without any expectations.
I turned slow and peaceful music on. Closed my eyes when warming myself up. In samasthiti I started my Ujjayi breath, very intense and I kept this during the full practice. It was loud and deep and felt like a storm going through my body. It even deepened some asanas. And yes, practice felt so good and not just my body said thank you, also my mind is in a much better mood now!
My breath cleaned me. My breath took all that shit out of me, that put me down. My inner smile is back.
This kind of intensifying asana practice also works when being in a happy mood — you can even push more. Stay a bit longer in each asana, close your eyes and go into your feelings. You may enjoy some and others better let go. So a rather aware inner tidying up. Let go of anything that doesn’t serve you any longer and enjoy.
Let your body work and your mind will follow.
Pay off
Discipline. Persistence. Trust. Faith. Practice. 6 days a week. It works.
Our bodies are very different – what’s easy for you might be impossible for someone else. Or the other way around. Age is another barrier, as it’s much harder to gain strength, overcome stiffness and convince our bodies of new options. Plus all of a sudden, there’s fear. The older we get, the more.
So it’s not just the body. The mind has to support a lot. No room for evil thoughts, but a can do approach. No limits. It just takes its time.
Headstand is quite easy for a lot of people. Some need a bit more practice. It took me about 8 months to be able to do free headstand, without the wall or any other support. Progress in baby steps. And finally, I was there. Tears were running over my face. I did it. It felt so easy…
Never give up. Do what you want to do. Even if it takes ages. It’s so worth it!
Self care
Practice steadiness and ease. Inner strength, but also soothing and sweet. How can this work? My view: it’s all about being kind to my body, instead of stressing it. Doing my best, challenging body and mind, by fully respecting my limitations that day, that moment. Listening to my body. Understanding if it’s just laziness, that makes the sofa calling me or my body sending signals on what is good or bad for me in that moment. Also fading out the self talk my mind is confusing me with. Gently. Accepting. Yes, tenderly.
Pushing and pulling seems rather violent and works the opposite direction, it takes us farther from ourselves. It is this deep connection with ourselves, our centre, that cultivates a confidence, which makes our practice and our lives magical and leaves us deeply touched and happy.
Care for yourself.
Transformation
Recognize
the moment, when you get off your clothes
and jump into your yoga pants.
Let the transformation start.
Recognize
how your mind releases immediately,
the skin in your face get smooth,
your jaw relaxes.
Recognize
your body waking up,
your muscles silently vibrating.
Recognize
your breath and deepen it,
become mindful.
Feel your happiness,
on your way to the mat.
Stop showing up. Do YOGA.
Stop showing up. I appreciate simple poses that make us feel great, not just the glorified yoga porn that’s all over social media. It’s not about jumping into the next posture. Huh, what’s my next challenge?
Don’t get me wrong, I like watching yogis that are practicing pretty advanced asanas and flows. I’m also working on certain postures. But I’m fed up with all this showing up. Couldn’t be more opposite to what yoga is.
Listen to yourself, stay with your practice, progress will come. Sometimes just in baby steps. You also might never be able to do certain poses. So what? It’s not about that. Go back to your pure self and listen. Start your practice and focus on basic postures. Have you ever really appreciated the benefits of ‚legs on the wall’? It’s nourishing, calming for the nervous system and grounding. Hanging out with your legs up the wall is one of the best ways to help drain tension from the legs and feet.
Work on things that are internal, things you feel. Such as Samasthiti. Breath. Bandhas. If you worked a lot on a certain posture and one day, you made it, yes, share it! Share your happiness, share your progress. I just ask you to stop showing up and making yoga just a competition of flexibility and/or strength.
Do YOGA. Not just asanas.
Read this.
Read this.
I just finished reading this book. BLIMEY. I never read a book and felt so much love coming out of some printed words on paper. I feel deeply touched. A book where the author is not showing up at all. But the lovely Colleen is honest. It reads kind of ‚quiet‘. Beautiful. Different. To the point. Matching. Yes.
No more words and many more words, that I keep. Read this book and find your own words to describe it. Thank you beautiful yogini.
Love is the breath within the breath
Love is the breath within the breath
Inhale the word LET — exhale the word GO
Breathe in suffering and pain — breathe out love and kindness
Inhale your guilt — exhale forgiveness
Inhale the word LET — exhale the word GO
Inhale tension — exhale softness
Breathe in adherence — breathe out ease
Inhale the word LET — exhale the word GO
TUNEin:YOGA 