In This Body, In This Breath

Yoga as a practice of presence

When I first started doing yoga, I thought it was just about the poses. It was only once I started Yoga Teacher Training back in 2016, that I learned that there’s so much more to yoga than just the asana (that’s Sanskrit for the physical poses of yoga).

In fact it’s just one part of what’s called the 8 Limbs of Yoga – the first 4 are focused on more physical things – like how to live your life, and treat others, and of course the poses, and also breathing practices. The last four are more internal, like concentration, meditation and others. But I digress a little bit.

So let’s go back to the start. I thought yoga was just all about flexibility. About moving my body in a way that looked graceful and calm on the outside. And maybe a bit about building strength.

But slowly I began to notice not just what my body was doing, but what it was feeling. I noticed that my mind kind of shut off when doing the assortment of movements, while focusing on my body and my breath, it gave my mind space to breathe. And also it made me really notice my breath and the simple realization that I had been breathing the whole time — and never really noticed! When you do yoga, you’re breathing with intention. Inhale 1 pose, exhale another. Inhale another pose, exhale another.

Yoga as the Practice of Coming Home

Yoga and mindfulness are not separate things. To me, yoga is a form of mindfulness. It allows you to become aware of your body and your breath at the same time. And just a bit of a definition of mindfulness, paraphrasing one of the ‘fathers’ of modern mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, it’s nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Which is really the thread that runs through every yoga practice. It’s what turns movement into meaning.

I’ve found that when I step onto the mat with presence something semi-magical happens. My breath slows. My mind softens. And somewhere in the rhythm of inhale and exhale, I find myself again.

I found that yoga helped me process the grief and, dare I say trauma, of losing my mom. And I’ve heard that it’s been found that it can be helpful with healing from trauma.

And it’s also helped me recognize the me I want to be, not should be. By being right here, in this body, in this breath, in this moment.

Mindful Yoga in Real Life

Sometimes, people assume mindful yoga has to be slow and meditative. But it’s not about the pace — it’s about the attention. In today’s yoga class that I taught, it was actually quite challenging and more strength than stretching. It was a bit tougher than I thought (and meant) but at the same time, it also distracted me from feeling not-so-good (due to my period). But even in a faster or more challenging flow, I can practice presence. I can ask:

Am I moving with my breath, or fighting it?

Am I here to control or to feel?

Am I staying in my body, or already off in the next task?

And some days, mindfulness on the mat looks like resting in Child’s Pose.

Some days, it’s a single standing posture, like Tadasana or Mountain Pose, done with care and really feeling all aspects of the pose. And some days, it’s lying flat on the floor, letting gravity remind me I don’t always have to try so hard.

Also, in the yoga teacher world we often say we take our yoga off the mat into everyday life.

It’s Not About the Shape

Maybe the most important thing I’ve learned is this: it’s not about the shape you’re making. I’ve learned to not be so strict about getting the pose exactly right. It’s about the relationship you’re building with yourself in the shape. Yoga is not about achieving a specific pose. It’s about listening to yourself inside the pose. Mindfulness is what transforms the practice from something you do into something you feel.

You don’t need to be bendy (I’m not! And I have short arms so can’t do some poses). You don’t need to be strong (but it can help build strength, but there’s always modifications). You don’t even need to know what you’re doing (that’s my job as a teacher to guide you through the sequence). You just need to be willing to notice. That’s the whole thing.

Your Practice Can Be a Sanctuary

In a world that constantly pulls us outside of ourselves — to the screen, the schedule, the noise, mindful yoga can be a gentle return. A sanctuary. A sacred little pocket of your day where the only thing that matters is your breath and your body moving as one. That is why I love yoga this one thing: the only thing that matters is your breath and your body moving as one.

But it’s not about escape (even though sometimes I feel like it can be), it’s about remembering where you are and where you want to be. It’s not about perfection (my common mantra: practice, not perfect!), just awareness, just being present. And to me, that’s the most important thing. And it’s also most definitely a sanctuary for me — especially when I’m going through a challenging time.

And I want to leave you with a Soft Invitation:

The next time you’re on your mat — or even just standing barefoot in your kitchen — can you take three mindful breaths and ask, “What is true for me right now?” and just lean into that awareness.

If this letter found you at the right time, feel free to share it with someone else who might need a little wonder today.

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