#heartsopenforyoga

[yogabypaige]

#Heartsopenforyoga day 7️⃣ is #anjaneyasana | Lately, things have been so crazy that trying to find balance feels near impossible—I’ve been focusing on the small victories of each day: getting to my mat, having hot fresh coffee made in our office, making it to my appointments on time. We’re talking the most basic of basics. I️ feel spread so very thin but then those precious moments of self-care taken out of my day to exercise, paint my toes, meditate, etc. have been absolutely cherished and restoring down to my soul. It really can be the littlest of things to turn around our perspectives and help us find joy. 💗💗💗 When life gets crazy for you, how do you slow down and cope?? #yoga 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at Square Inc. HQ)

[yogabypaige]

#Heartsopenforyoga day 8️⃣ is dancer’s pose | I’ve learned that our ability to physically open our hearts (through Asana) is directly impacted by our day-to-day interactions. I’ve allowed myself to become my overly stressed and focus on all the wrong things which has kept me in a state of stress. It feels like I’m at a boiling point and while trying to capture this pose last night (AFTER a 75 min heated yoga class) it was so challenging. I️ felt rigid and closer to breaking than bending. It made me realize that I’ve been holding onto the things in life that do not bring me joy and that I️ am most definitely falling into old habits of trying to control everything; silly right? We all know better. After acknowledging that I’ve been a shitty friend and partner and subsequently apologizing and asking forgiveness, today I’m starting fresh and realigning with my joy. 💗 So many lessons this challenge... 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at Equinox Sports Club San Francisco)

[yogabypaige]

Day 1️⃣1️⃣ of #heartsopenforyoga is chinstand | For as long as I can remember, whenever it comes to talking about the “important” things of life, I always ended up crying. I’ve always kept my feelings locked so tight inside as a survival technique that when it came time to open up, I struggled internally. Even now, after years of counseling and learning how to be comfortable sharing my deepest and darkest, I find that I need time to process why I may feel so emotional when it comes to talking about the important things (promotions, what I feel is right, insecurities). I’ve accumulated an arsenal of tools that remind me that it’s okay to soften and openly express myself, sometimes I even have to rehearse these tough conversations (with a trusted confidant). A few of the tools that have helped most include: meditation, solo exercise (yoga, cardio), revisiting the topic 24 hours later, asking myself WHY until I get to the root cause (usually old thoughts, limits or habits popping up). I’m far from being “open” but at least I no longer feel stuck in my rigidity. Now, with a little time, faith, and trust I’ll usually come around. ☺️🧘🏼‍♀️ #Yoga 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💕💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at Oakland, California)

[yogabypaige]

Day 🔟 of #heartsopenforyoga is sugar cane pose; a little half moon with some heart opening. 💜 I remember being in a training with @yoga_medicine and Tiffany telling us that in order to bend over backwards, we must have the ability to stand in our strength. At the time, I though I knew what she meant (I’m a very literal person) but years later as I’ve had to FIND my strength in order to stand in it, I have also found that that strength has directly connected to my ability to feel good in backbends. I’ve always bend able to backbend with relative ease but transitioning into and out of backbends wasn’t the easy; I didn’t know how to engage and soften. Something has shifted over the last couple of years, I feel stronger and as a result my practice feels safer and more serving. I am more confident in saying no or backing off without shame. Our strength comes in many forms and requires practice, just as our Asana practice does. #yoga 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at Oakland, California)

[yogabypaige]

Fitfam #hallowback for day three of #heartsopenforyoga! 💕💪🏼 It’s taken me a long long time to truly value companionship and have the ability to rely on the people around me—something that’s a constant work in progress. A couple years ago, I met an incredible group of friends that changed my life in a BIG way. These people share my passion for movement and adventure and are always there to lend a smile or helping hand. ☺️👋🏼 I feel so lucky to have met my #fitfam and feel very proud when my husband describes our group as “[they’re all] so fit and creepy nice.” 😂 The positive vibes and energy we create together is so pure and refreshing. It seems crazy now but I had a hard time accepting their unconditional love because it all seemed too good to be true. Where was the catch or hidden drama? What could they want from me? Time and again they just wanted friendship and eventually I felt safe enough to share that while I wanted to spend more time with them, I have a level of social anxiety that sometimes keeps me from leaving the house. Rather than judge me or brush off my reasoning as flaky or full of excuses they continued to invite me and include me... these days it’s not as hard to accept their invitations because they have become my chosen family. I’m forever grateful and definitely a better person because of my #fitfam. 💗💪🏼💗 I love you guys!! #Yoga (at Le Meridien San Francisco)

[yogabypaige]

Day two ✌🏼 of #heartsopenforyoga is wild thing; a posture that in my body always feels strong yet graceful. 💪🏼💕 I have always been a perfectionist, even from some of my earliest memories. I remember learning a dance at school and not being able to show my mom because I didn’t have all the moves perfected and I felt sloppy, imperfect, bad. This perfectionism has been a heavy companion of mine to carry around; it has cost me valuable relationships, promotions, opportunities and often leads to being so very frustrated with myself. Early on in my yoga practice I frequently felt frustrated because my practice didn’t look like the teacher’s or even the person next to me. I wanted to be exactly like them because then I’d really be a “yogi.” It wasn’t until a couple years ago that I read a @brenebrown’s books where she directly addresses perfectionism and I sobbed the whole way through. It was as if she wrote those words for me. I realized that I never felt good enough and if people saw my imperfections that they would find me unworthy of love, friendships, and happiness. How very wrong I had it! It’s been a long journey to accept, and moreover, celebrate my imperfections. The more I relinquish these perfectionist tendencies, I find so much love and joy. I am open to so much more. 🧘‍♀️ For me, THIS is #yoga. (at Oakland, California)

[yogabypaige]

Day 6️⃣ of #heartsopenforyoga is tiger pose | If there’s one thing this practice has truly taught me is patience and non-attachment. I’ve been caught up in the comparison game and sometimes find myself there now (though not as frequently). It’s so SO easy to look at someone else’s practice and want to be there too. When I was accepted to my 200-hour back in 2011, the idea of doing a handstand wasn’t even on my radar. Up until that point, my yoga had included some strength elements but it was more restorative and balancing to my very injured body. That’s also when I met @mackenzieyoga (love you Mack! 😘) and her practice even then was unreal. I remember standing in our practice room and thinking, “wtf am I doing here? I️ can barely chataranga properly.” My whole world just changed; I often felt like I was way out of league but toward the end of our training, I realized that while my body may not be able to do what someone else’s can, doesn’t diminish my desire to learn or my gift to teach yoga to my students. I learned to let go, yet remain inspired. I️ learned to trust my journey and enjoy it. Each time I find myself in that comparing game, I remind myself that this is my journey and it’s one I’m proud to call mine. 🧘🏼‍♀️ #Yoga 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at 24 Hour Fitness - California Street, CA)

[yogabypaige]

Day 9️⃣ of #heartsopenforyoga is bow pose | I had a yoga audition to teach somewhere I’ve been manifesting for awhile. Needless to say, I was crazy nervous and, naturally, fell into beating myself up and going over the coulda, shoulda, wouldas. What a miserable place to be. Then, life snapped me back to reality. I took a nasty fall down the stairs while leaving and horribly sprained my ankle; like can’t walk felt broken pain. Suddenly, my audition took a back burner so I offered up the entire experience to the Universe. (Remember how that perfectionism I mentioned before?) I realized that it’s all so out of my control now; maybe even laughing that it was never within my control. I was also struck by the kindness from everyone around me. Multiple people helped, above and beyond. I felt so grateful for these strangers and the care they each offered me. I’m typically pretty independent and don’t ask for a lot of help. The kindness shared definitely softened something in my heart. #yoga 💙 HOSTS: @laurasykora @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga @ktbabieyogini @monn_cheri 💜 SPONSOR: @aloyoga (at Oakland, California)