Why do I keep practicing yoga?

The physical benefits are wonderful - gaining strength, flexibility, and healing pain in the body. But the real reasons I have stuck with it for 15+ years are under the surface

- I formed a better relationship with self-image

- my sleep became deeper and easier

- I rewrote addictive patterns with substances and food

- I had methods to heal my nervous system after traumatic events

- I was able to better navigate the waves of anxiety, grief, and anger

- I found a space where I can detach from my mind and observe myself, instead of being ruled by my thoughts

Patañjali’s definition of yoga as in the Yoga Sutras is: “yogaś-citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ”

Yoga reduces the fluctuations of the mind through absorption in the practice.

Our mental patterns are rewritable. Yoga empowers us to change the way we think.