Blessings and welcome to your relaxing yogi space on the web. Thanks for visiting and I wish you a life of bliss and romance. Click on the video and jig along to Bobby McFerrin jolly song.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHFDa9efCQU
On this day of Love, I would like to take a mini break from our current series of looking at how yoga helps detox and cleanse your body and share a little bit about my relationship with food and my body.
My Food Story
It freaks me out when people say “oh, its OK for you, you’re a yoga teacher, of course you are calm, eat well and exercise.”
No way. And as for being calm all the time…my daughters will gladly tell you otherwise:)
Like you, I have hang-ups about my body image and over the years have gone from near starvation diets to gorging and stuffing myself. These days I am glad to say I am reaching a happy medium where my relationship with food is one of love as I strive to nurture my core and look at ways how I can use foods to serve my desire for growth and fulfilment. I still have a long way to go, but am happy with the choices I make and even on days when I mindlessly snack or eat foods which I know don’t agree with me…its OK. I don’t fret. I just treat it as it and bless it anyway.
It’s All Yoga…
As for practising yoga, again, some people have this image that all I do is either teach yoga or sit on my mat and meditate all day. I would love to do that. Yet, the reality is I’ve gone for days, weeks even when I stare at my yoga mat yet lack energy, desire, motivation-call it what you like- lack of discipline, self-care, laziness- and can’t be bothered to practice.
Or, on other days, I’ll muster up the energy, sit and meditate, stretch a little and may even do a few rounds of yoga breathing exercises, yet all the while, I know I am just going through the motions, paying lip service to what is going on inside.
Sometimes the pain is too much…
Sometimes, I avoid practice because the pain inside feels too raw, too close to the surface to connect with. I am scared what I will find if “I go there”. Other times, this is because I am in superdoppa busy mode and so out of alignment, the mere thought of sitting or practicing yoga freaks me out and I say to myself, “I am too busy, tired, stressed-out” to sit and pray—so I don’t and rush out to my next assignment, only to be stuck in traffic for half an hour, or miss my train as I fumble to top-up my Oyster card and can’t find my purse or change in my maze of a handbag.
You Are Not Alone
If you can identify with the above, or feel you will never master the art of meditation and yoga seems totally alien to you, don’t worry. It’s OK. I have come to realise, appreciate and embrace these days as I now know when I get through, I shine and radiate and then, time spent in daily practice is soooo sweet and blissful. As my baddest yogi buddy Lo, say’s “its all yoga baby”.
Romance Your Soul
And on this Day of Love. Remember to take it easy, romance your soul don’t worry, be happy. Pause a while in between the busyness of your day to smile, look in the mirror and say to yourself “I Love You”.
Take care, breathe and have a Marvellous Life!
And, if you are new here, feel free to subscribe to my email list to instantly receive more yoga updates and news.
Thank you
And remember, to share the love and feel free to share your thoughts and observations about self love and happiness in the comment box below.
Hugs and Blessings.
Ntathu
image, with thanks Synergby Jasmine via flickrr
What a lovely truthful post & refreshing to hear that even the yoga teacher isn't practising yoga 24/7…..
Loved the inclusion of the song and a nice reminder to go easy on ourselves.
Amanda
I loved this. The video set it up and I really appreciated your honesty. I think as 'experts' the pressure we can put on ourselves to be it 100% can be exhausting, and you laid it bare here, thank you.
Thanks Kerry…the more I heal the more I realise just how blessed and fortunate I am and dont feel the need to pretend everything is rosy when I feel crappy. All part of the circle of life. Thanks for your thoughts.
What a lovely post, Ntathu, and so very honest. It made me feel normal, when sometimes I can't be bothered to eat well, exercise, meditate or even relax a little. Good to know I'm not alone! Thanks xx
We're all connected Yvonne. Doing the best we can with what we know (and don't know). Thanks for sharing. Take care
yay! happy v-day, my dear! 😀 xoxoxoxo
Beautiful, Ntathu, and how human. Incredibly connecting. Thank you. Sally x (and Happy Valentines Day)
Ntathu, I respect your honesty and thank you for sharing your inner feelings and challenges. Sometimes it's OK just to 'be' rather than do, isn't it? Your writing is inspiring and I'm looking forward to reading more but for now, I'm just going to not worry and be happy! Thanks for the encouragement.
Warm wishes
Janet