I have been stuck on the same pose in my Ashtanga practice since February. It’s the first pose in the practice that really requires upper body strength and it’s just not happening for me.

Does your body feel achy? Do simple tasks such as standing up, sitting down, and bending over cause you discomfort and pain?

Did you know that it doesn’t have to be that way? By incorporating simple stretches into your daily routine, you will begin to move more easily, live more joyfully, and enjoy greater health overall.

My teacher Tim Feldmann asked this question during a recent week-long virtual retreat. I always thought I knew why, but when he asked this question, for some reason I felt the need to explore it further. Is it just to feel good? Is it because it’s fun? Is there a physical goal associated with it? Or is there a deeper reason, beyond any physical sensations or attainments, which keeps me coming back to my mat every day?

Coronavirus. George Floyd. Protests. Riots. Murder Hornets. 2020 has been a test in physical and mental strength. How much more can we endure? It’s no wonder many of us are starting to feel uneasy, anxious, and depressed. There’s so much uncertainty in the world today. So much fear, so much unknown. The ever-present threat of change in everything we’ve ever known life to be.

How do we cope? How do we approach life when there’s so much trauma and pain surrounding us? How can we heal our bodies and minds when we can’t control anything around us?

According to the Bhagavad Gita, “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” What is the self this is referring to? It is our ultimate, TRUE nature. Yoga connects us with our truth, and it is our duty to act in accordance with this truth every day.

Ahimsa is the first of Patanjali’s Yamas, or the Yogis’s ethical and moral guidelines towards society. Directly translated as “non-violence”, we can also understand Ahimsa to mean non-harm, compassion, mercy, peace, and love towards all beings. Patanjali called this practice of Ahimsa ‘Mahavrtam’, or the Great Vow which sincerely resides within the Yoga practitioner’s heart. Without Ahimsa, we cannot progress along the path of yoga.

When you think of the word ‘yoga,’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

It may be stretching, difficult poses, or flowing sequences, or maybe it’s tight pants, mats, or busy studios. But what is Yoga really about? This age-old practice that’s been around for thousands of years didn’t start with Lululemon, Instagram, or heated studios (believe it or not). The ancient Yogis weren’t balancing on one hand or putting their legs behind their heads. They didn’t wear expensive clothing or make funky playlists. So, what is Yoga, where did it come from, and how can we learn to live the yogic life in the 21st century?

I fell today. I was entering an arm balance pose that I’ve done hundreds of times before, and I hit my chin straight down onto my hard, stone-tiled floor. I cut my chin open and bruised my jaw, but once the bleeding stopped and the shock of the fall wore off, the most pain was felt on the inside, in my heart. My ego was injured more than anything. This wasn’t the first time I’ve fallen – I fall quite often, and once before it even landed me in the emergency room and left me with 5 stitches in my leg. But at least that pose was a new one for me, and a much more challenging one than today. Today I thought: How could I fall out of a pose from Primary Series which I’ve been doing for years with little effort? Am I just a bad yogi? Will I always be weak? Maybe I’m not meant to practice Ashtanga, a very physically demanding style of yoga. Why is it that the things you love the most often cause you the most pain?

It’s been about a month since most of us have been required to stay at home due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Life as we always knew it has changed dramatically, and we’ve had to adjust to a whole new world- one that exists within the confines of our own 4 walls. Without the organization of our daily routines, it can be extremely difficult to motivate ourselves to focus on our health and wellbeing. Gone are the days when we could freely walk or run outside, practice yoga in a sweaty room, or go to the gym with our peers. But, now more than ever, it’s incredibly important to get moving, both for our physical and mental wellbeing. By integrating mindful movement into our daily routines, we can bring peace, happiness, and a sense of accomplishment into our lives, despite the chaos which may surround us. Here are some tips to get started.