Happy National Yoga Awareness Month! It’s time to celebrate, meditate, and get to posing (on the mat and for social media, naturally)

Now is the perfect time to reflect on all of the amazing things that you have accomplished because of yoga. Do you remember taking your first beginner’s yoga class? I started yoga when I was very young and I did not like it because I had tight hamstrings. Every pose hurt to stay in, especially ones like downward dog and forward fold. It took me years to commit to practicing twice a week, and after a couple of months I noticed a major difference – I could actually touch my toes! I still remember feeling in awe in that moment. Throughout the years, I have felt more relaxed, aware and open from practicing yoga. I am so grateful that yoga has helped me with stressful days and paying the bills. Yoga continues to help me during this pandemic. I have felt connected to others through Let It Go Yoga, and I love sharing tips when my friends ask questions about poses. Yoga has helped me after strenuous workouts like kickboxing, bouldering and HIIT. I learned how important it is to stretch because of yoga, which always creates the perfect balance before and after those classes. I taught children’s yoga classes since I was 16, and a lot of kids would ask me why they have to learn yoga. They were never satisfied with, ‘Because it’s good for you!’ or ‘ It’s important to stretch your body.’ As someone who struggled through many painful yoga classes when I was a kid, I now know that learning the postures when I was young have helped me again and again.

So how can you celebrate National Yoga Awareness Month?

Take time to meditate

It definitely improves my happiness level when I take the time to meditate. I like to schedule it every day for at least 5 minutes, and then reward myself with a quick 55 minute Savasana. That technically counts as a yoga class!

Take a class or teach a class on Zoom

Many yoga teachers have transitioned to teaching on Zoom – It’s really is a great way to connect with yoga posers around the world. If you see that your favorite yoga teacher is offering a Zoom class, roll out the mat in your living room and hop online. If you’re interested in teaching yoga, get certified here!

New to Let It Go Yoga? – Start Here

Refer a friend to your favorite yoga class

I love a good recommendation, so if my friend suggests a yoga class that I haven’t tried, I’m game. Whether you post about your favorite class on social media feed or send a quick text, you’ll feel happy sharing the experience with someone you know. Plus you can chat about the class with each other afterwards.

Be grateful for your yoga journey

Take a few moments to realize what your body has achieved with yoga – I may not think about it all the time, but my body and my mind have changed so much with yoga and I’m so glad that I have practiced for so long. Even though the poses still hurt and there’s a few that I won’t even try, I know that I’ve come a long way and I’m happy to have yoga in my life.

Take a yoga photo for social media

It is a hashtag, after all. Tag @letitgoyoga in your posts and we’ll feature them throughout the month on our Facebook feed.

Written by Emily Parsons, Certified Let It Go Yoga teacher. Photo Credit: Emily Parsons.

New to Let It Go Yoga? – Start Here