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When I first started practicing yoga I never dreamed that it would affect me as much as it has mentally. Sure I knew that physically there would be some differences as I have always had friends in my life who were into yoga and I always thought they looked well, healthy . You know what I mean? glossy, hair good skin, clear eyes. But over the past few months I've noticed how much more content I am with who I am and I can only attribute it to the yoga. I'm really trying to live in the present. I am much more peaceful with my relationships with almost everyone (I can be pretty intense). I've had a hard relationship with my parents for most of my life but I feel that I have found a certain amount of contentment with my relationship them. It happened bit by bit and has sort of snuck up on me.

wow, what a great success story!

Hello Bev,
Just reading your story reminds me so much of what happened to me. I was going through some rough stuff personally and I did a year long teacher training. The year was amazing a huge transformation and now that I've graduated and don't meet with my class, I feel well let down. Slowly, though I think I'm getting it back. I really loved who I was and had such great confidence and lately, I feel sort of like its slipping away. I think because my own practice has been put on the back burner since I've started teaching, but this past week I went to a new class and I know thats what I need and even if I plan on once a week its for my own good. I also need to start living in the present moment. It was really nice taking someone elses class for me.........

Namaste~

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DaceYoga

Great story Dace, I can only speak for me personally but I have found yoga to be transforming to. I've always lacked confidence and been a bit overweight, I think with this comes a bit of anxiety and maybe a bit of depression too. You know what I mean maybe when I say that you know what is wrong and what you should do, but doing it is a whole lot harder. I try and take each day as it comes and make sure that I get to yoga at least twice a week. It had made a big difference to my life, even that little change. It makes me smile a whole lot more and that has to be a good thing doesn't it?

Dace I hope you don't mind me asking, but how come do you think this has happened? Is it because you're doing too much yoga nd then you can't do your own practice? Or is it that youre doing so much yoga that you can't face doing any more? I'd be interested to know as I'm thinking that maybe one day I'd be interested in learning how to teach too.

Yeah, curious. Can't teaching it include doing it? I guess teaching it might make it the last thing you are motivated towards in your spare time.

I know a guy whose first career was as a butcher and, being around meat all day, he gradually turned into a vegetarian.

I can relate to this. I'm teaching full time and being a new teacher I'm tending to do quite a bit of the class as I teach it (occupational hazard till I get a bit more experience ).

Personally I don't think teaching and doing is the same as your own practice. When you teach your focus is on others, instructing, checking that they're safe and thinking about what comes next. Yes, you might get some physical benefits but the mental release isn't there. You still need to practice to make your own teachings as 'juicy' and inspiring as you want it to be.

So when I'm tired rather than skip I tend to meditate and then do some restorative or even listen to a yoga nidra tape. They all work.

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Yogatea,
Thankyou...Thats exactly how I feel. Of course as a new teacher I tend to shy away from "adjustments" I will touch sometimes, but my svasana well I think thats why they come back. To me that is the pose of all poses, its time to let everything we've done integrate into the body. Here I do do adjustmaents , because I love it so much. I also use essential oil usually orange and they love it. But Thats when I don't get my integration so thats what I mean by not getting my full practice . But, I do meditate so that is helpful.

Namaste`

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DaceYoga