What brought you to your practice?

Sometimes the hardest part of practicing yoga is showing up to your mat. There must be a reason why, something that gives your practice more meaning, and pushes yourself to be a better you. Your ‘why’ is the foundation of your motivation, and where your goals come from. Your why is where the growth in yoga truly comes through. Everyone’s ‘why’ and motivation is a different and it will not always be the same, but it is important to take your ‘why; with you in practice, and in life.

My ‘why’ is constantly changing but overall has a consistent theme. Why do I practice yoga? Why do I show up to my mat? Yoga for me is much more than a physical practice, yes that has a lot to do with it, but the mental benefits are what drives me. It is why I keep coming back and keep showing up. Throughout the day I am go, go, go, and it takes a lot for me to step away and take time for myself. When I start to feel lost or overwhelmed and not like me, I find myself on my mat. My ‘why’ is to slow myself down, make myself feel better by being stronger physically and calmer mentally, and to make me feel more like myself. When I do that for me, I am happier, and it affects and spreads to the people around me and the people I love.  

There are many reasons having a ‘why’ is important. The biggest being, this is your motivation and your deeper meaning. Yes, you can come to your mat because you want a good workout or you heard yoga is good for mental health, both are great reasons, but WHY are those things important to you. Why do you want a healthier mind, or to feel better in your body? You can withstand a few weeks of motivating yourself to be healthier or stronger, but your ‘why’ is what makes it long term. You must dig deep to face your ‘why.’ It can be full of emotions and it is harder, but the outcome is much better, and that is what keeps you coming back for more.

There is a lightness that comes from practicing yoga. You can come into the studio or onto your mat feeling heavy and weighted down from your day, or your week, and this is the time to practice. You use your breath and your movement to sweat, rejuvenate, and leave behind anything you need too. So, when you walk off your mat or out of the studio, you can walk lighter, and take with you the things that are important. That is why your practice needs a deeper meaning and that is the reason you need a ‘why’ because is it so much more than just a physical practice.

My teaching ‘why’ is different. I show up to teach every day because I love how it makes me feel and I enjoy watching others learn, grow, and challenge themselves. Teaching is important to me and it is why my cup is full and how I fill my cup up. Please share your ‘why’ on social media with Torch Yoga Studio! We want to hear and someone in our community can probably relate and we can all be motivated and push through the heat of Torch together.

Lily Ford