On this International Day of Yoga I can’t help but think about how my yoga journey started and how far I’ve come since then. Few people know my story but let’s just say this, if anyone (and I mean ANYONE) in my teenage and early twenty-somethings would have told me I would move to Portland and become a yoga teacher in my late twenties, I would have absolutely thought they lost their mind. No doubt…

But here I am, a whole entire lifetime (it seems) away from that version of me. A more complete, more authentic, more graceful expression of that same Being.

With that said, on this #InternationalDayofYoga I express deep gratitude for the ancient practice of stilling the mind, which allows us to see things for what they are. I know it sounds far-fetched and ludicrous to some, but there are so many veils and depths to life and Truth.

As someone who used to scroll past, and downright avoid these types of blogs and social media posts, I get it–it can really be uncomfortable. There are so many concepts about yoga that just don’t make sense, or seem to be far from what you may feel is within your own belief system. But before you close out your tab, here’s a short/incomplete list of what yoga has done for me.

Yoga has:

• opened my heart to love, compassion and acceptance in ways I cannot concept 

• opened my mind to the Oneness of every thing 

• opened my eyes to injustices around the globe, and to the beauty, persistence and consistency of nature

• opened my ears to truly listen instead of just hearing–any and every thing

Through all of the mental and emotional growth yoga has afforded me, it has also lent me a voice. A voice that has sometimes been shaky, stern, or unsure, but more recently ascending toward confident, empowering and peaceful. 

Only with all of the above has yoga allowed me to learn more about my own body and respond to dis-ease in ways that express a nurturing compassion toward my soul’s physical container. Some days are more challenging than others, but knowing that I am a Divine Being living a human experience reminds me that I do not have to be anyone’s idea of perfect, and there is no specific body goal or accomplishment that makes me more Divine than I already am.

If you have ever taken part in any of my yoga offerings, either virtually or in-person, I extend a heart-felt thank you to you. As I type this I imagine us taking a deeeeep in-breath together, and a lonnnnggg sigh out. The light in me honors the light in each and every one of you. May we all be blessed on our journeys as we create more meaningful interactions on this Earth.

I express gratitude to all teachers who stand alongside me and came before me, uplifting universal consciousness, harmony and peace among all Beings. May we continue to learn and always be students of this practice.

If you have any questions or comments about your personal yoga practice, leave a comment or drop a line at hello@zenmnm.com.

Be well,

Miranda