I have said it before and I will say it again, yoga changed my life.
The day I rolled out my yoga mat three years ago, my entire life changed for the better.
Unlike the other times I had given yoga a try, this time I became hooked for real. The timing was right and the circumstances were ideal. The studio was utterly charming and I needed something to soothe my nervous system and calm my anxious mind. For the longest time, I had lived with both anxiety and stress and my nervous system was a mess.
Now that I practice yoga regularly three to four times a week, I honestly have no clue how I ever managed to function as a human without it.
Yoga has transformed my life in countless ways. In addition to reducing my stress levels and soothing my monkey mind, it has enhanced my overall well-being. It helped manage my chronic illness in ways I never thought possible (Crohn’s Disease). Although I am now symptom free, I keep up the practice and it’s been extremely beneficial for my writing career.
It has given me focus, expanded my creativity, grounded me and, more importantly, has helped me get over some unhealthy attachments. Because the practice of yoga is all about connecting with the priceless treasure we hold inside ourselves as opposed to grasping for material things outside, it allowed me to cut ties with my pattern of mindless spending on things that have little meaning. It has taken me a very long time to grasp this important lesson.
The truth is that I used to spend ridiculous amounts of money and energy chasing material things: power, designer clothes, shoes, handbags and countless other stuff. Deep down, I imagined it could fill a void inside. But it did not. It only created an even greater one.
Yoga put me on the path of clearing out my old, worn-out way of thinking, including the emotional baggage that was pushing me to constantly strive for more and to buy and accumulate so much stuff I didn’t need. It also put me on a path of wanting to remedy the situation that caused me pain. I became curious about eco-fashion, responsible consumption and conscious shopping.
In addition to this being the topic of a recent self-help book, it’s also the topic of my blog: Soulful Couture. By scaling back and asking the tough questions: where does this item come from? Who made it? And in what conditions? I feel that I’m contributing to making the world a much better place.
As explained in my new book Splendeur, we are all at the dawn of a new era that will bring very big changes. We’re all called to navigate life differently. The old ways of living and doing things no longer work: force, stress, manipulation, anxiety will no longer have their place. Rather, you must follow your intuition and act with fluidity, confidence and grace. It is faith in others and in ourselves that will dictate our success in all areas of our lives.
Now more than ever, the planet needs us to pay attention and make more conscious choices. We are asked to tune in deeper and listen to our intuition. This is where yoga comes in and plays a significant role. If the word Yoga means union of body, mind, and spirit, it also signifies our connection to Mother Nature, a precious, priceless and fragile one indeed.
Best part about YogaTribes is that there is always a class happening anytime, anywhere!
You can find all types of yoga classes across Canada and the world all the time. All you need to do is choose the class you want, book a spot and you are in. No more connecting or downloading unnecessary applications, no more security or technical problems. It is a fast and secure system that never fails you.
Isabelle Laflèche
Writer and Public Speaker
Author of Splendeur
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