Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body.

by Jessamyn Stanley

Everyone’s body starts out at its own definition of weak—whether that weakness is physical, mental, or emotional. The most important part of practicing yoga is that even when our weaknesses cause us to fall, whether it’s on or off the mat, are we able to strengthen ourselves in response? Are we able to gather our fears and learn from them?

By remaining quiet, we release attachment and become untethered to both the pleasures and woes of life. In meditation, there is no sadness or happiness—only acceptance.

Yoga is not about physical appearance. It’s about self-discovery—it’s about realigning with your true self. So instead of asking, “How do I look?” when practicing yoga, always ask yourself, “How do I feel?”

Embrace the process, accept the gift of slow progress, and revel in an opportunity to truly see the world from another angle.

At what point would YOU finally say, “I’ve had enough of hating my body”? Accepting our bodies is more than just size acceptance. It’s understanding that beneath these layers of complicated fabric, we’re all basically the same. Imperfect (yet absolutely perfect) humans.

It takes confidence to accept ourselves exactly as we are in the face of people who want us to doubt our abilities. It means realizing that we’re really dealing with fear—we’re afraid of being judged.