For many years, yoga and I had a very on-again, off-again relationship; I traipsed in and out of classes and studios during my high school and early college years but never allowed myself the opportunity to truly commit to a physical or spiritual practice — I was very busy, after all. After a few semesters of overeating, overthinking, and overpartying, I felt disconnected from my body and knew it was time to get serious about my health. Though I grew up dancing and cheering, I was never much of a conventional athlete — the idea of running a mile made me shudder — but yoga seemed just my speed.
I Started Paying Attention to My Body
Yoga gave me a kind of awareness about my muscles, joints, and mental state that I had never experienced. Once I began regularly practicing, I found myself checking in with my body in and outside of the yoga studio, realizing things I had never been cognizant of before. As I started listening to my body and began to take my practice seriously, the shift spilled its way into other facets of my life. I started eating better, partying less, and supporting my needs more. For the first time in my life, I moved and fueled myself in ways that felt caring.
