What does YOGA mean to you?
We asked our 2019 graduates and here are their answers...
"Yoga to me, means finding balance. Connecting breath, mind, and body. Taking time to find inner calm. It is getting out of the mind and into the body" -E.G.
"To me, the Yamas & Niyamas describe the core meaning of what is is to be a yogi & be genuine in the practice. It's a way of life for me & has very much been my spiritual sanctitude. For me yoga, means trying to be the very best version of myself & forgiving myself when I am less than. Yoga is a balance of grace & discipline" -S.A.
"To me, yoga is the journey to the self. Letting go of what society puts as important. For me, Yoga is a way to remember to show up for myself. Taking time to focus on what my mind & body needs"
-J.A.
"10 months ago, I would have said that yoga was more of a physical practice for me. I had long since disconnected to any spirit I knew to exist in yoga, my reiki, or just in general. The only place I continued the inner practice was in my massages. Now, I have reconnected with a long missed part of my spirituality & I've found yoga to be my way of life. It's the way I move, the way I act, the way I parent, and the way I pray" -A.W.
"Yoga is a union of breath & movement. I feel like yoga has helped me in life. Yoga to me, is breathing and moving through life's changes" -D.D.
"Yoga is living. Yoga is connecting with myself and all life around me. It is the path for uniting and entering my body, mind, and soul. It has become the collection of tools I use to rediscover my true self, to heal old wounds, break old habits, and find love for myself again. Yoga is moving the body and deliberately while listening to my body in the movements. It is meditating on God and find that stillness within. It is a way of life that supports me, so I can support others. Yoga is a way to connect to nature and all living beings but also teaches me to recognize the illusion of the physical and the reality of the spirit. It is breathing and harnessing all the energy with myself. It has helped me realize that I am "a spark of Divine" -H.B.
"To me, yoga is a philosophy and a practice that helps me participate more fully in life, to be present in the body and the mind both on and off the mat. It is an outlook that helps me separate my emotions from reality and to observe rather than react, making me more patient, balanced and less anxious. It also gives me the chance to deeply feel emotions through meditation, journaling, and practice on the mat. I love that it gives me a benchmark to understand my body, strength, flexibility, balance, integration, and confidence" -A.H.
"There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about yoga. Whether it's getting on my mat, reading yoga related material, or turning into my mind. Yoga is a way of life and it's how I study myself & my world. I am so glad to have found this practice. It really ignites & drives the passion in me. It is my connection to God" -K.M.
"To me, the Yamas & Niyamas describe the core meaning of what is is to be a yogi & be genuine in the practice. It's a way of life for me & has very much been my spiritual sanctitude. For me yoga, means trying to be the very best version of myself & forgiving myself when I am less than. Yoga is a balance of grace & discipline" -S.A.
"To me, yoga is the journey to the self. Letting go of what society puts as important. For me, Yoga is a way to remember to show up for myself. Taking time to focus on what my mind & body needs"
-J.A.
"10 months ago, I would have said that yoga was more of a physical practice for me. I had long since disconnected to any spirit I knew to exist in yoga, my reiki, or just in general. The only place I continued the inner practice was in my massages. Now, I have reconnected with a long missed part of my spirituality & I've found yoga to be my way of life. It's the way I move, the way I act, the way I parent, and the way I pray" -A.W.
"Yoga is a union of breath & movement. I feel like yoga has helped me in life. Yoga to me, is breathing and moving through life's changes" -D.D.
"Yoga is living. Yoga is connecting with myself and all life around me. It is the path for uniting and entering my body, mind, and soul. It has become the collection of tools I use to rediscover my true self, to heal old wounds, break old habits, and find love for myself again. Yoga is moving the body and deliberately while listening to my body in the movements. It is meditating on God and find that stillness within. It is a way of life that supports me, so I can support others. Yoga is a way to connect to nature and all living beings but also teaches me to recognize the illusion of the physical and the reality of the spirit. It is breathing and harnessing all the energy with myself. It has helped me realize that I am "a spark of Divine" -H.B.
"To me, yoga is a philosophy and a practice that helps me participate more fully in life, to be present in the body and the mind both on and off the mat. It is an outlook that helps me separate my emotions from reality and to observe rather than react, making me more patient, balanced and less anxious. It also gives me the chance to deeply feel emotions through meditation, journaling, and practice on the mat. I love that it gives me a benchmark to understand my body, strength, flexibility, balance, integration, and confidence" -A.H.
"There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about yoga. Whether it's getting on my mat, reading yoga related material, or turning into my mind. Yoga is a way of life and it's how I study myself & my world. I am so glad to have found this practice. It really ignites & drives the passion in me. It is my connection to God" -K.M.
