As a human recovering from over-exercising & disordered eating in my teens & 20’s … Yoga asana practice has been pivotal in coming back to myself, reminding myself I’m worthy no matter the # on the scale or the contours of my belly. (Note: this isn’t an ask for sympathy or affirmation, yet in hopes this post may support someone else in their journey) Rather than allowing me to “check out” of what was going on in my body, my mind, my life … Yoga invited me to return to the breath & the movement, & just enjoy being in a body with all its beauty, all its ability & all & limitations.
AND … AND I got away from strength training for several years as I dove into yoga asana (posture) practice. And yeah, imbalance developed through repetitive use injuries, lack of cardio & strength training. The past 2-3 years have been an experiment in balancing — once again — my physical well-being practices.
We might consider how our yoga practice and physical exercise programs can influence & inform each other, rather than substitute one for the other — for both have different purposes & benefits that are complementary.
Though they’re fewer & far between, I still have days when my mind snaps back to calorie counting & compulsion to get in another workout. Yet thanks to the additional aspects of the Yoga practice – breathwork, meditation, relaxation – I can bring myself back to myself & the ok-ness, the enough-ness of it all.
How has your Yoga and / or your physical fitness practice brought you back to to yourself, to your amazing enough-ness?
This time of year can be a spacey one — the air is lighter, temperature colder, the urging from social media to do more, buy something, keep moving. Our physical practices can bring us back to our bodies, back to our breath, back to our ability to move MINDFULLY — or choose NOT to move at all despite the world’s urging. We can feel the solidity of our muscles, our bones, the deep connection with our breath. We are here. We are right where we need to be. No more. No less.
Hope to practice with you at OMBody soon 
Thanks to Jordyn Reagan at Reagan Fitness, & dear friends & yoga teacher colleagues like Kristin Phillips for encouraging me to “pick things up & put them down” on a regular basis.
Erica Engel 