Happy Monday! I am really hoping this week ends up being a lot better than my last. There were a lot of mishaps and not so fun moments last week that I am glad are over. I'm also keeping myself calm and relaxed until Tuesday when I have to go back and try to register for one more class since Friday did not go so well. As of now I am not even a full-time student. 10 credits, woohoo! That's bad. But hopefully I can get things settled soon. Until then I am shunning that from my mind and all the bad stuff that happened last week. Let's just make this a super #PowerMonday, okay!?
"Yoga is a union with yourself." I saw this quote on Yoga Journal's Facebook page the other night and it really resonated with me. I never really knew the exact way to put this into words, but this quote really does just that. Yoga isn't just being connected with the mat or just being present for however long your practice is that day. It is so much more. Yoga is a connection to the physical body as well as the emotional, and spiritual. It is a connection with every corner of your being. It becomes a union when you fully accept your practice and the lifestyle that is yoga. You become "married" to that connection between yoga and yourself.
Yoga is not just a thing. It isn't just an activity. It may be for some people who only do yoga for the fitness aspect or just for the meditation. But when you start to see yoga as a lifestyle you begin to learn that embracing it is actually creating a union with yourself. Sometimes I forget to embrace all the aspects of yoga. I like getting in that strong fierce workout that leaves my body so warm, glowing, and strong. Yet I always tend to skip savasana, the important calming rest pose at the end of the practice. I like to think about the feelings yoga brings to me and what it has taught me, yet I still struggle with channeling those feelings into a calm presence that I want to keep in my everyday life. My union with yoga is nowhere near perfect, but I work on strengthening that union, that connection everyday. Not only on the mat during my physical practice, but also just living my normal life.
Yoga is something that you really can make a lasting union with. It's not like a quick circuit workout, an upbeat Zumba class, or a hardcore spin session. Those things last only for the duration of the workout. Yoga goes so far beyond just a workout. It seeps itself in to every inch, every minute of your day, if you allow it. This last year of my practice, I have finally started to really feel that union even when I am not practicing. I feel my connection with the yoga life as I am simply walking to the car or meeting someone for the first time. Of course I also still instantly feel it right when I step in the met. My body begins to fully awaken and become aware. During my physical practice is when that union gets to fully be expressed . My heart opens, my body bends and becomes lit with fire, my mind settles into its happy yoga place. I have to have a strong connection with myself during this time to allow and trust my body to even move into some of the asanas that I do.
"Yoga is a union with yourself." I have a union with yoga. I have a union with myself. This union contains, strength, flexibility, confidence, compassion, beauty, radiance, forgiveness, understanding, and trust. It allows me to be open and myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But is it the perfect union? No. But yoga and I are able to come together everyday and work on those aspects that are not. There is no perfect union, but the union I have with yoga, and thus myself, is pretty damn great!
I hope y'all link-up again this week with something powerful! I can't wait to add some more power to my week and you never know who you might be helping when you spread that power! Have a beautiful Monday and a beautiful week my friends!
Click the Inlinkz button to add your link to the collection! Also, please link back to Strength and Sunshine and mention #PowerMonday somewhere in your Post! Let's spread the power 🙂
So tell me:
+ Have you found something you can create a union with in your life?
+ Do you feel connected with yourself most days or do you struggle with being in-tune with yourself?
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Deborah Smikle-Davis
Hi Rebecca,
I must admit that I too enjoy yoga but too often I tend to treat it as a workout. Thank you so much for reminding us that yoga should be a union/connection with every corner of our being when we fully accept our practice and the lifestyle that is yoga. I am so glad you shared this enlightening message with us at the Healthy, Happy, Green and Natural Party Blog Hop. We appreciate it!
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Deborah. Yoga is so much more!
Ida
You are so impressive. I agree, Yoga is a union of mind, body and soul. It’s a lifestyle, not a fad or trend! #sitsblogging
Strength and Sunshine
You said it! Yoga is totally a lifestyle and you only have that when you embrace it fully!
Run_Bake_Blog
I am still new to yoga but am loving it and the first time I cried in savasana I thought I had just lost my mind! A yogi friend of mine was so excited for me...told me "That's it!" "That's yoga!" "You've done it!" Hahaha...I guess I am ok with that!☺
Thanks for linking up for Well That's Fantastic! Friday! ♥
Strength and Sunshine
Yes! That is it! You have to read my post about crying during yoga! You've found that perfect release! It feels so good afterwards, right!?
Blair Lonergan
Wow! I'm impressed by what you can do with your body! I've been getting back into yoga recently and I think it's the perfect way to start my day. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you 😉
Yoga is the perfect way to start your day, or end it! I'm not much of a morning practicer, I usually practice mid-day for a pick-me-up!
Coco
Running is my yoga. 😉 I can't settle my mind in yoga, but I can quiet my mind running.
Strength and Sunshine
To each her own 😉 My mind isn't always present every time in my practice, it wonders, but I like that I always have the chance to work on that!
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman
Yoga has really helped me recover from a running injury.
Strength and Sunshine
That's so great to hear! It is the perfect cross training for runners 😉 Keep at it though and don't stop!
candies & crunches
As of lately, yoga has been my rescuer! I honestly don't know what would I do with out it.
PS. I also registered to do a certificate (Canadian Securities Course, in case it rings a bell lol). And even though I have until the end of July 2015 to complete it, I already registered for an exam for August 25th last Friday. Just a shout out that you're not alone and you can totally do it! <3 xoxo
Strength and Sunshine
Yoga is always my rescuer too! It is just so beautiful, humbling, and feels so perfect for my body!
What is the Securities Course?
candies & crunches
I work in the financial industry, so it something that will allow me to advance in it 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Well then Good Luck!!!! 🙂
candies & crunches
Thanks! Same goes to you!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
You are my yoga inspiration. I would love to be able to do these poses. I am working on it!
Strength and Sunshine
You are too sweet! 🙂 Just keep practicing and commit to your own practice and what your own body will allow!
torikom20
I've grown to love yoga more and more this year, and now I looks back and can't believe I didn't enjoy it for so long! And I'm impressed with your yoga poses girl! Such a rock star 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you!
I've always loved yoga, since the movement of it is so close to dance and what I did for 13 years of my life! But I only started 3 years ago with a real practice and I am so glad I did!
Emily Hein
I love meditation and yoga, but I can never seem to connect the two. What's your best tip for really starting to connect during yoga? Do you do yoga at home by yourself, or do you attend class? I'd like to start doing yoga at home, but I have no idea how to build a routine!
Strength and Sunshine
I have my own practice at home. I start with 30 minutes of my own stretching and asana practice before I put on an online video either from Fiji McAlpine or My Yoga Works. I have all the resources you could ever need on my Yoga Page 😛
Kelly (@KRod0519)
Your pictures are amazing. It really is a union with yourself. Anything you love that is sacred time for you is a union...a commitment with yourself. Love thyself.
Kelly
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Kelly! You must be so in-tune with yourself to fully commit to yoga, thus you couldn't possible fully appreciate it until it is a union with yourself!
gabiwalter
Awesome pictures! I just recently began to practice yoga a few weeks ago in my regular daily routine. I'm really beginning to see what it can do for me and how different it is from the things that are in my life (a good different). I'll be blogging about my introduction to yoga tomorrow 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
I can't wait to read it! That's so great that you are starting a practice! Hopefully it will continue to grow!
Becca from ItsYummi.com
I've got a lot of physical limitations that would prevent me from doing a lot of these moves, but I'd really like to try yoga sometime.
Strength and Sunshine
You should! Yoga can be such a healing practice as well! There are many styles that cater to injuries, limitations, and simple relaxation!
slimsanity
I've been getting into yoga a little more lately. I'm really liking it so far!
Strength and Sunshine
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that! Keep it up. It will be one of the best decisions you make!
genevieve y
This was a beautifully written post, thank you. This is how I feel about yoga, too. It's very difficult to express but you've managed to do it in this post! Hope you get to continue your journey with yoga. Savasana is great and I hope you get to experience that 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! It is always hard to truly capture the words to express "yoga feelings"!
It is always a hit or miss with Savasana. But when I do allow myself to take it, it does feel so good and so rewarding!
jillconyers
Yoga has created a union between the physical me and the mental me that I've never had before.
Strength and Sunshine
Same here Jill! And isn't it such a wonderful thing!
cottercrunch
yoga is a humbling practice, which we all need. it's helps us grow.. internally.
Strength and Sunshine
It is! I know I have grown so much after almost 3 years of practice. I can't wait to see where I will be even just this time next year. We grow every time we step on and even off the mat!
Carla
LOVE THIS.
it is YOGA here as well.
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Carla! 😉
Kaila @healthyhelperblog!
Love this! I believe I am discovering this union with yoga and I couldn't be more grateful for it! I agree, savasana is truly one of the hardest poses out there. It takes a lot more mental strength than you would ever think just by looking at it. But that's why it's so important to incorporate and practice in each one of your yoga sessions!
Strength and Sunshine
I keep trying to at least e still at the end for even just one or 2 minutes. But I always want to continue moving my body, I don't want to be "done" yet!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog!
I agree! Sometimes I never want my practice to end! 🙂
Tina Muir
Great post! I hope someday I get to that stage of yoga. It is becoming very important to me right now, and I am noticing a difference when I am not able to get it in. I now see that you do not have to attend a full 75 minute class to enjoy yoga, it could simply be 10 minutes here and there. Whatever is right for you at that moment!
Strength and Sunshine
Yes! It's about embracing what you need and your individual union with your practice and yourself. Like I said, no union is perfect, but it's what works for you and how it makes you feel that is important. As long as you are wanting to embrace it, you will receive everything you can!