Latest / Enough & Evolving / 9 Ways Yoga Has Shaped Me Inside & Out
Transcript
- Tyona Vallejo: Hello and welcome to Enough In Evolving Podcast. I'm your host, Tyona Vallejo, master certified life coach and mindfulness expert, helping you reclaim confidence, break through unhelpful patterns and manifest the relationships and life you desire. Now let's get started. Hey friends, welcome back to the podcast. Firstly, can I say you are amazing? Seriously. the fact that you are here. Taking your precious time to listen to a podcast about mindfulness and personal growth says a lot about you. So, hi five, my friend. Today I'm sharing about a topic I don't often talk about, but it's a huge part of my life. And that is yoga. I'm heading to Kohleed a Yoga Retreat and Joshua Tree this weekend and our amazing studio is going to be meeting out there And it caught me thinking, what I rarely speak about are my experiences as a yoga teacher and a practitioner on here. So I'm excited to share with you nine ways that I believe yoga has shaped me. First, a little background about how I came to yoga. When I was a young girl, my mom introduced me to yoga. She had a little journal. And in that journal were some poses her friend had shared with her that she would do. We'd sit down and she'd stretch and I would maybe play for a little while and then go and mess around. And it wasn't until years later, in my early 20s, that I was working as a VP of marketing for a finance company when I really picked up the practice. Not only did the practice feel great in my body, but also I loved that Zen-like quality that it gave me when I'd sit down and practice. When my babies were born, I would do baby and me yoga, which I absolutely loved thinking back about those little memories were so fun. And in 2012, I actually began teaching yoga. I still remember how I felt on that first day I taught my first class, which I will share with you when we get to number seven on our list. But for now, let's begin with number one. I have to say, one of the most powerful gifts yoga has given me is the practice of sharpening my awareness. If you've been here a minute, y'all know that I preach awareness is the key to everything in life. and in yoga, you constantly redirect your attention to the present moment, focusing on the physical sensations, the postural alignment, the breath. Which can really help you build mental awareness and strengthen your focal muscle. And according to science, it also lowers your cortisol stress hormone and calms the nervous system, which y'all know I'm a huge fan of as well. Number two, yoga helped me cultivate a more positive, compassionate, loving relationship with my body. I used to Abuse my body a lot with alcohol and unhealthy foods, but practicing yoga influenced me to have a more positive relationship with what I was consuming. I used to struggle with chronic digestive issues, chronic sinus infections. And with the help of a naturopath and changing my diet, practicing yoga consistently, I've healed much of my gut issues and really. rarely have any sinus issues as well. Number three, yoga taught me to slow down and be less reactive. Another nervous system regulation tool that I learned on the mat and then transferred the habit into my real life. Specifically my relationships, how I responded to my kids, how I interacted with my husband. The practice of yoga truly improved how I showed up for myself in my relationships. I believe the simplest tool that I use daily that I can offer you is the breath, being aware of the breath. And when you practice purposefully breathing in place of reacting, you slow down that reactionary response and regulate the nervous system so you can respond more intentionally. And with that said, it leads me to number four. How yoga energetically helps me shifts my moods through the use of breath, postures, and somatic movements. Through yoga, I learned the power of changing your physiology and how it can truly positively affect your mood and your energy. Something that is free, that is available to anyone can make such a huge impact on how you feel. I highly, highly encourage all people, for that reason alone, to try yoga. And then number five, yoga has given me a space to practice having an intimate connection with a deeper part of me. Eckhart Tolle refers to it as the deeper I or the divine. And for me, yoga has been like a ritual that allows me to quiet the mind and access my connection to God, to spirit, source, whatever you Call the creator of this life. Number six, community. I've taught for almost 15 years and I've met some amazing, beautiful souls in this yoga community. The community continues to inspire, delight, and ground me. And now number seven. Teaching yoga has helped me develop greater confidence in myself and my voice, which brings me back to the first day I taught. I wasn't even finished with my teacher training when my teacher told me that I would be covering his entire class. Of course, at the time my heart dropped into my stomach, heat rushed to my face, and I remember thinking, I don't know if I'm even ready to teach a full class of students. But when I looked around the corner, there was a full class of students, and he wasn't taking no for an answer. So despite the fear, I decided to go for it. And as time went on, I felt my confidence grow. I learned not to let my doubts be louder than my connection to source or presence. I definitely believe when I teach, there is something greater working through me. And the more I get out of my own way and allow this energy to flow, the greater confidence I have. And then number eight, yoga has given me a space to explore opportunities for greater self-acceptance. It has inspired me to accept my flaws, my weirdness, and to embrace my humanity along with other people's as well. And lastly, number nine, yoga has consistently provided me a home. a home to find myself, a home to rest and rejuvenate my soul. And for that I am so deeply grateful for yoga. I hope this compilation of my experiences with yoga inspire you to come to your mat. Whether you're a teacher, a long-term practitioner, or a novice, I hope you feel curious and encouraged about the endless possibilities of growth available to you with this incredible practice. Thanks for spending time with me today. As always, please remember: you are enough and you are evolving. See you next week and Namaste. If you're listening to this and you're recognizing yourself in these patterns, this is exactly the work I do inside my coaching. This isn't something you have to figure out alone. If you're ready to feel more confident, grounded, and self-trusting, I'd love to support you. Check out the show notes to book a consultation coaching call today.