Hi Friend,
I get it—getting to the yoga mat can be hard.
Even with the best intentions, some days it feels like every second on that mat is an act of pure grit. Every pose feels tougher than the last, and I catch myself counting the minutes.
But then I breathe, hold myself in the pose, and remind myself:
“You committed to this. You’re exactly where you need to be. All is calm, this is your time.”
That’s when everything starts to soften. My body feels stronger, my mind quiets down, and before I know it, it’s almost savasana. And the cherry on top—a few fresh ideas or a new perspective has popped into my mind.
Yoga has taught me how to listen—not just to my body and thoughts but also to follow instruction. Here’s how:
1 Emotional Regulation Through Yoga
Following cues in yoga teaches patience and emotional control. When you’re guided through challenging poses, it forces you to regulate your breath and manage your internal reactions—whether it’s frustration, discomfort, or fear. The more you practice emotional regulation on the mat, the easier it gets to handle stress and tough emotions in everyday life.
2 Listening to Your Body
A consistent yoga practice helps you tune into your body’s signals—whether it’s pain, emotional triggers, or areas of tension. Yeah, it sucks to feel discomfort, but instead of running from it, what if you faced it head-on? Breathe through the uneasiness, and you'll start to resolve the pain, both physically and emotionally.
Over time, you develop a deeper dialogue with your body, learning to recognize patterns, avoid pitfalls, and respond with awareness. This is where Meridian Yoga is so powerful—by working with specific acupressure "hotspots" and meridian lines you can release built-up tension, ease pain, and restore your body’s natural energy flow.
Last Friday during our New Moon Yin class, we focused on the kidney and gallbladder meridians and 4 acupressure points. Here are some of the shifts people have noticied:
Feeling calmer and thinking more clearly
Less anxiety
A tidy, more organized home
Deeper, uninterrupted sleep
Waking up feeling rested and ready to start the day
Feeling lighter in their body
Less desire for stimulants
3 Balancing Surrender and Effort
With my overactive mind, following the yoga teacher’s cues throughout class was a game-changer for learning how to focus and be present. Still, on those days when my mind resists the mat, I practice surrender. By surrender, I don’t mean giving up—I mean letting go of the need to micromanage every moment. It’s like floating in water, just letting your body be held. Balancing effort with surrender is in essence the art of manifesting - so the more we can practice it on the mat, the more we can put it to the test in real life.
Feeling stuck or carrying tension in your body? Join me for Homebody to reconnect with yourself, feel at home in your body, and experience true relaxation in your own space.
