My "Why" - September Reflections

September was National Yoga Month, and as I read the responses from our students about why they started practicing yoga- and why they keep coming back- I felt inspired to reflect on my own “why.”

I was first drawn to yoga because I was naturally flexible. At the time, I gravitated toward things I thought I’d be good at. I admired yogis on Instagram, some even twice my age, balancing in handstands on cliffs or flowing in breathtaking places I dreamed of visiting. Yoga looked beautiful. Aesthetically, it was pleasing- like art in motion. I thought, “That’s what I want. To be strong, to travel the world, and to capture those beautiful moments myself.”

And now, part of that dream is coming true- I’m about to travel to Italy for a yoga retreat! I may even snap a few photos of myself practicing in stunning landscapes. But the truth is, that’s no longer my “why.”

I came to the mat wanting to make pretty shapes with my body. I return to my mat because yoga has changed my life in countless ways beyond the physical. My practice has evolved with me through every chapter: during college, when I changed career plans and stepped away from the path I once imagined for myself; through the grief of losing loved ones, pets, and relationships of all kinds; through fresh starts and uncertain beginnings.

Yoga has supported me through every version of myself- lighter, heavier, stronger, more tender. It has empowered me at every stage. Even the times when I feel heavier in my body, yoga has helped me feel grounded and strong. It’s been the constant that helped me navigate, cope, and ultimately grow into a healthier and more authentic version of myself.

Along the way, yoga has introduced me to incredible people- teachers, students, and friends who’ve inspired and supported me. It has opened doors to opportunities I never imagined possible, both on and off the mat.

For me, yoga is a lifelong practice of discovery. Each time I step on my mat, it reveals more of who I am. I know I will never stop practicing, and I hold the hope that one day I’ll teach full-time, continuing to share this gift so that others might uncover what yoga means to them.