What makes you feel powerful?

“What works for me is yoga”, a friend said to me recently. It is true for me too, and has been for nearly 30 years now. After just a few minutes of pranayama, asana or sun salutation, I can feel like a queen with my own imperfect self.

I may ache, have parts with little feeling, I may feel that I am my own worst enemy at times, but yoga can transform me into power and aliveness, and if I am lucky, into gratitude for what I have.

Maintaining a practice over many years is not easy. There are so many distractions! Not to mention excuses, reasons, envy, self-doubt… In those moments, if I see someone else doing yoga and feel envious or notice I am judging others or myself harshly, I can take it as a helpful flag, a courageous smile, a pill - as people say in Sicily, not to give a monkey’s and just please myself! (It is quite a bit ruder than that, but you get the gist).

It is an opportunity to turn towards myself and listen to what part of the body is calling for attention and needs support and challenge.

The daily yoga and meditation that never fails me is washing the dishes, and kindness to myself when I am in difficulty - these are the support, the running water, the making new, and the challenge, because kindness can be the hardest thing when I am backed against the wall.

When I am on the mat, I think it helps to question the posture, in a feeling way, is this working for me? Am I here or is my mind and energy elsewhere? It might be that talking to someone or doing some housework or sending an email is what I need to do more than holding a pose.

I remember my favourite asana, pranayama or yoga practice and ask myself why it is a favourite. Do I still like it, how does it make me feel in this moment?

It is important not to get hung up on what I think I should be doing, what matters is how it is for me now and whether it serves me as I am now.

Being open to what yoga can do for me in each moment is the best way that I can practise. I go back to old forgotten practices, I try something I never thought I would - with adequate support! I try something I have never heard of before, and I trust myself.

What makes you feel powerful? Does yoga help?

Peace, Om Shanti