International Yoga Day: My Journey Into Yoga

On this International Yoga Day, I find myself reflecting on what first drew me to this ancient practice.

It all started with a quote by Iyengar I came across many years ago:

Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.

Those words sparked something within me. They awakened a curiosity about this unique and mystical practice, which seemed to offer something far deeper than physical movement alone.

For me, yoga hasn't been about achieving impressive poses or creating the perfect shape. It is not gymnastics, nor is it ballet. While the physical postures are an important part of the practice, they are not the destination; they are simply the path. Yoga is, and always has been, a practice of the mind. However, that hasn't always been the case for me.

The poses help us cultivate stillness, presence and awareness. They guide us back to ourselves, reminding us to be content with what we already have and grateful for the life unfolding in front of us.

This is one of the greatest lessons I have learnt through my own practice, as a yoga teacher and, especially, through teaching Yin Yoga. Yin Yoga has given me the space to slow down, to listen and to let go of comparison. Throughout my teaching journey, I have met many people who have admitted to comparing themselves to others on the mat, judging their flexibility, strength or progress. Yet I have witnessed a shift in them, and in me. As students begin to settle into stillness, something changes. The focus moves away from how a posture looks and towards how it feels.

Yoga has taught me that nothing is purely physical. Every posture invites us into a deeper conversation with ourselves, our emotions, our thoughts, our energy and our spirit. In the quiet moments of stillness, we begin to notice what has always been there, waiting to be acknowledged. Yoga, ultimately, is about connection.

It is the connection between body, mind and soul. It is the connection to Mother Nature, to the rhythms of the Earth and to something Greater than ourselves. I often think of our maternal ancestors gathering beneath the Moon, immersed in the Natural World and connected to Her wisdom and cycles. In many ways, yoga allows us to return to that same sense of belonging, remembrance and reverence for life.

Today, on International Yoga Day, I celebrate not the poses, but the journey inward; the practice that continues to teach me presence, gratitude and connection, both to myself and to the world around me.

Happy International Yoga Day.