I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I practice yoga and WHAT my yoga practice means to me.

My reasoning for taking my first yoga class (a VHS I did in my own living room) is much different than my reasoning for my continued practice now.

As a 20 year old, I rolled out my mat because these yogic postures intrigued me. They looked like a combination of dance and gymnastics which were two of my favorite things to do as a child and young adult.

It wasn’t until I had my first baby, years later, that my yoga practice, actually became a PRACTICE instead of this beautiful fun thing I did a couple days a week.

Yes, becoming a MOM changed everything!

Today I wanted to reflect on the very first (and most basic) of the Yoga Sutras. It states:

Atha Yoganusananam = This is the beginning of instruction in yoga.

The Yoga Sutras translation I’m reading from today is a book called “How to Know God: the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali.” It’s translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood.

In the first paragraph they explain what they mean by, “this is the beginning of instruction in yoga”. They state:

“A YOGA is a method – any one of many – by which an individual may become united with the Godhead, the Reality which underlies the apparent, ephemeral universe.  To achieve such union is to reach the state of perfect yoga.”

And THIS is the different between Keya’s 20 year old yoga practice and my 36 year old practice.

MY yoga practice has become my safe haven from a chaotic, noisy and often confusing world.  It is that “thing”, I can turn back to anytime I’m feeling off centered, out of whack and insane.  It has held me, grown me and helped me to learn myself in the deepest of ways, and I am ever so grateful for the gift of my practice.

So this week, I encourage us all to go back to the basics for just a moment.

We all can get so caught up in fancy inversions and arm balances (which are super fun). We can shame ourselves for not looking like a yogini (whatever that looks like), or acting like a yogini (what ever she acts like), and completely lose focus on WHY we step foot on mat to begin with.

Ask yourself why do you practice. What do you want to get out of your practice. And how is your yoga helping you serve yourself and the ones around you better.

Peace and blessings to you mamas!

Could you use more peace, energy and focus in your mom life?

Get this FREE video and learn the 3-step, yoga-based process to help you juggle all your “must-dos” with grace and joy! Click below to get the free video!