Self love is the ultimate goal, right? We know that in order to love others, we must first love ourselves. But sometimes it feels unobtainable, vain, or just plain silly. The truth is, self love is one of the most powerful tools you can use to change your experience of life. The hardest part is knowing where and how to begin.
The key word here is journey. I cannot honestly say I love myself 100% every single day. There are still negative beliefs and limiting feelings I am working through. But I have come a long way in how I see my relationship with myself - and at the root of that progress is Yoga.
How Does Yoga Support Self Love?
Yoga is so much more than the physical practice you see in studios. The biggest challenges of yoga are learning to sit still and alone with your thoughts, questioning the deeper meaning of things, and raising your vibration to a higher frequency. It is a lifelong practice that nurtures the mind, body and soul. The path of yoga brings such deep understanding and acceptance of oneself that it becomes impossible not to start loving yourself along the way.
My Story
I became interested in fitness at 14, focusing on weight lifting to try to change my physique. Looking back, I realise that young girl never stopped to ask whether she actually liked weight lifting. She used it purely as a coping mechanism for a negative self image.
It is sad how many people turn to exercise purely for aesthetics. To grow certain muscles, and shrink others. I was still developing into my body at the time, yet I already wanted it to look different.
This is not me saying weight lifting is bad. It can be a fantastic workout with countless health benefits. But in my experience, I only used it to change how I looked. I completely neglected how it made me feel.
So what happened? I did not see the results I so desperately wanted, because I was not practicing from a place of self acceptance. I was practicing from a place of low self esteem. I knew something had to change, so I began learning more about nutrition, anatomy, and most importantly - the mind.
That is where I found Yoga. I remember my very first lesson was with my mum. We joined out of curiosity, just to "see what the fuss was about." And now seven years later, I am a yoga teacher with a yoga clothing business. Yoga is at the core of everything I do.
My Realisations
Yoga helped me understand how truly powerful my body is. It made me feel grateful for it rather than hateful towards it. I stopped wanting to punish my body with strict diets and started wanting to nurture it instead. I realised my body looks after me every single day. It is my friend, not my enemy.
Here are three ways Yoga helped me on my self love journey:
1. Yoga Builds Body Acceptance
Yoga humbles you. Certain poses push your limits and teach you to explore what your body can do. Over time, this builds a relationship with your body where you learn to understand and accept it for what it is.
2. Yoga Encourages Mindfulness
Practicing stillness and slowing down the overstimulated mind during Yoga helps reduce negative thoughts. It gradually shifts the neurological pathways in your brain, moving you towards a more positive and compassionate mindset.
3. Yoga Teaches Non-Judgement
Learning the roots of Yoga encourages non-judgement - of others and of yourself. This quietly begins to change the way you perceive the world around you, and the way you see yourself within it.
If you are looking to better your relationship with yourself and others, Yoga can open a new path of love and acceptance. It did for me, and it can for you too. ❤️