More Joy Wellness

In fact, it took a lot of attempts over a lot of years for me to really connect with it. Each time I stepped onto a mat in the past, I felt stiff. I felt out of place. I was frustrated by my lack of flexibility. I’d look around at others, seamlessly flowing through poses, while I felt like an outsider. I would leave classes thinking, “Maybe yoga just isn’t for me.”

The class that changed everything

Then, in 2016, I was introduced to something different – aerial yoga. It turned out to be the door I didn’t even know I’d been waiting for. Something about the freedom of aerial practice was so refreshing. I loved the feeling of floating, flying, and defying gravity.

Aerial yoga didn’t feel like a test of strength or flexibility; it felt freeing, playful, and just plain fun. Soon, I noticed something unexpected. It wasn’t about becoming more flexible or stronger, though that happened too. The real transformation was mental. Even when I was struggling or literally falling on my face, I wasn’t comparing myself to others. I stopped worrying about how I looked or how “good” I was. Instead, I was excited to see what new things I could try each class.

Without intending to, I eventually revisited a floor practice. I had let go of the need to measure myself against others or some idea of perfection. Instead, I focused on showing up for myself. I breathed through each moment and found joy in what my body could do, no matter how it looked. That shift in mindset has made all the difference in how I approach yoga today. It’s not about strength or flexibility. It’s about committing to the practice for you.

How yoga changed my life

Yoga has strengthened my relationship with my body and, perhaps more importantly, with my mind. Through this practice, I’ve learned to appreciate what my body can do. I’ve come to celebrate its small wins. I focus on these rather than its perceived shortcomings. I began to speak kinder to myself. I started feeling proud of what I was accomplishing, no matter how small.

This experience is why I’m passionate about making yoga accessible to everyone. Yoga isn’t about perfection. It’s not about how we look on the mat. It’s about how we feel in our own bodies. With each practice, we build a deeper connection with ourselves, a greater sense of compassion, and yes…a little more joy.

So although my path with yoga wasn’t love at first sight, it has become an essential part of my journey toward self-compassion and inner peace.