fitness, sport and healthy lifestyle concept - man doing yoga seated forward bend pose on mats at studio or gym

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There was a time in my life when I turned up my nose at the thought of yoga. Stretching and moving around on a mat for an hour? Boring! I would have rather run, lift weights, or play a sport. However, my opinion changed when I actually decided to go to a class. By the end of the hour, my legs were tired but my mind was at ease. Just like that – I was addicted. Yoga has taught me more than just how to do a proper down dog. It’s also taught me some valuable life lessons.

Lesson #1: Go With The Flow

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. We think we know how a situation will turn out. Then life throws us curve ball out of left field. But hey – that’s life. We can’t always predict what happens next. What we can do, however, is go with the flow – just like in yoga. Instead of trying to change or control a situation, accept it and move on. This could do wonders for your happiness and mental health.

Lesson #2: Stay on Your Own Mat

In yoga we stress the importance of “staying on your own mat”. Don’t compare your yoga practice to a classmate’s practice. Translation? Don’t play the comparison game. Try not to compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20. It’s been said that “comparison is the thief of joy”. Playing the comparison game only hinders our success and happiness. Instead, appreciate where you are at. And, as always, enjoy the process.

Lesson #3: It’s All About Balance

One of the most important aspects of yoga? Balance. Poses like tree pose, crane, and handstand all require you to equally distribute your weight to remain steady and strong. One of the most important aspects of life? Balance! Equally distributing our energies between various activities and priorities. When you live a balanced life, you feel more calm and grounded. Eat veggies…and ice cream too. Go to work…but find time to travel too. Go for a run…and have lazy days too. And, just like in yoga, we might lose our balance. But it’s all about standing back up and regaining equilibrium.

Written by GUADS staff member Angelina