Guest Post: 5 Things Yoga Has In Common With Life
Sanchia is an all round fitness and wellbeing Beauty. Founder of Yogahood Ldn, half of yoga and meditation duo Gyal Flex and runs with the likes of Run Dem Crew – she knows a thing or two about yoga, and does it all rocking a killer fro!
It’s hard to write about stuff like this without sounding like a cheesy 1Direction song (if you know me, you know there isn’t anything on my playlist related to 1D. I took up yoga for loads of reasons, but mainly for some REAL me time and to improve my quality of life. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m seeing parallels every time I throw it down on the mat. I think yoga has a bit of a weird reputation and since dipping more than my toes in it, I want to share some of the ways it’s impacting on my life and move away from the fitness and Instagram aspect of things.
The list could go on, but for now here are 5 things yoga has in common with life!
1: SOME DAYS YOU HAVE IT AND SOME DAYS YOU DON’T.
It doesn’t mean you will never have it again. Poses come and go, just like feelings, moods, people, money, your favourite tv series, a good fro day and a banging winged eyeliner (although to be fair, I could do this in the dark with no mirror and still be winning – just saying). Just take it as it comes and don’t get too obsessive with any of these things.
2: YOU WON’T KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY AND TRY (AND TRY) AGAIN.
My mate wakes up to this print every morning!
Who knew that the more you repeat something, the better you get at it? Kids and CEOs that’s who. They apply this to everything and it’s something adulthood tries to steal from you. Two years ago I never dreamt I would train to be a yoga teacher, because I thought my yoga pose game was weak and the annoying realistic adult in my head that sometimes speaks too loud, said it would always be that way. But children and CEOs make a habit of learning to walk that walk and talk that big gyal CEO talk, never allowing the frustration of falling on their backsides to stop them, but finding more creative ways around getting up and back at it. I’m still trying with yoga every damn day, but the results are changing every day too.
3: STAYING IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE, JUST KEEPS YOU COMFY
I used to look at some poses with awe and despair at the same time, standing firm in mind and I’m sure written all over my face with an, “I can’t do that, so I’m not trying, fam” kinda attitude. Of course I was right, which is a nice feeling sometimes (being right), and I’ve obviously saved myself some embarrassing moments. But, honestly, it’s boring as hell, pointless and I’m sure like me, you didn’t get this far in life being comfy, so why should this be any different? I’m now all about giving those impossible, inspiring, are-you-mocking-my-life-right-now poses a go and trust me, I’m seeing and feeling the affects. There’s no feeling like being proud of yourself for accomplishing something, especially when you thought you couldn’t do it. Yoga is basically a lot like playing. Kids do cartwheels, handstands, jump off walls and make walking the same boring route home from school interesting, because believe it or not, doing something different and jazzing ‘ish up a bit is dope and makes you feel like a BAWSE.
4: GUESS WHAT? NOBODY DIES WHEN YOU MAKE A “FOOL” OF YOURSELF
Whether it’s falling out of a pose flat on your face (with the high possibility it will actually be, flat. on. your. face), or saying something dumb in an interview wishing the floor would open up. Sometimes it works out. Like that time I answered one of the interviewer’s questions with “I have to be honest, I don’t know” and was still offered the job. Don’t shy away from owning the foolishness, don’t overthink it or beat yourself up over it. It’s a waste of energy, and it will actually help you. It teaches you what it feels like to try and recover from a situation, it highlights where you need to improve or focus your attention for next time, and more importantly, it gives you a reality check and reminder, nobody cares that much about what you’re doing anyway so you might as well do you. And you never know, you falling over publicly might just help someone else feel the fear and do it anyway.
5: YOU’RE CAPABLE OF WAY MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT.
No disrespect to our awesome brains ‘cause the power of thought is strong, but it’s not always a positive thing if your thinking ain’t right. Your thoughts will sometimes have you believe you can’t do something before you’ve even tried it. And whilst it’s true, I’m still working on that damn crow pose, and I can’t guarantee I will always be able to balance my WHOLE BODY ON JUST MY HANDS (this still blows my mind every time I try). The real truth is, I’m way better at it than I thought I would be and by practicing over and over, it feels different in my body and I’ve kicked my muscle memory’s ass into gear so it now helps me, instead of feeling like it’s working against me. This can literally be applied to everything in your life that you’re doubting, if you just shush any negative thoughts or worries you have and know that you have everything you need to start. Love and feel the cheese, “you are enough”.
BASICALLY…
Yoga just keeps reinforcing what I already know about life and adding its own little surprises. I’m not free from frustrations, but I’m in a dope ass place with it. Are you? I want to know what it’s doing or done for you, no matter how little or small!
Holla at your girl on IG @misssanchialege and @yogahoodldn
For classes and more blog posts check out www.sanchialegister.com
Fancy hitting the mat with Sanchia and her duo Gyal Flex, with soulful meditation teacher Holiday?
Check out their Hip Hop Yoga + Meditation at Miranda, Ace Hotel this Saturday 24th June. Tickets here and include a fresh juice, something to nibble on and their signature gold goodie bag.