Embracing Change and Going with the Flow
On January 6th of this year, when I decided to start journaling online, I intended to return to daily writing and hold myself accountable.
My focus was to document the steps I was taking to reverse my autoimmune condition. Improving my health was also one of the reasons I joined a 21-day online yoga challenge.
Little did I know that I would end up journaling and reflecting on my yoga journey.
Even in my wildest dreams, I hadn’t imagined that people would take this seriously, engage in discussions, and encourage me to write more about it.
To those who do, thank you—it motivates me, deepens my self-reflection, and helps me be more intentional (even though most of it feels intuitive) with what I share here.
I’ve noticed a lot of internal changes lately, which seem to influence the topics I end up writing about each day. Interestingly, I don’t decide or plan my topics.
My only commitment is to sit down and write, and everything you read here feels like magic. Many times, when I revisit my posts the next day, I’m amazed by what I’ve written and wonder where the inspiration came from. But that’s the beauty of this journey.
Showing Up Is the Simplest Gift You Can Give Yourself
One week into the Yoga challenge & this is how I feel
Day 9 of the 21-Day Yoga Challenge
Today’s session focused on the lower body. Physically, I could feel the progress compared to last week—I was able to hold certain poses longer and even push myself a bit further.
The session left me feeling energized and accomplished.
On another note, since it was Pongal, the harvest festival, I decided to celebrate by wearing a saree. The highlight of my day? The blouse that used to feel tight just a month ago now fits comfortably—almost breezy!
It’s a small but significant indication of the inch loss I’ve achieved through regular yoga practice. But it’s just a small thing.
The change that truly matters is how I feel. There’s a subtle shift happening within me, though I can’t quite put my finger on it yet. Besides, it feels too soon to write about it in detail.
If there’s one thing I can say for certain, it’s that my focus has shifted from multitasking to concentrating on a single task at a time.
On that note, I thought, why not start exploring Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras together?
I’ve previously read The Yoga Sutras for Children by Roopa Pai, a wonderful book that simplifies Patanjali’s teachings in a way that’s both understandable and adaptable for children.
I even wrote a detailed review of the book, which you can find here:
Whether you’ve encountered Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras before or not, the word “Yoga” is likely familiar to most.
When I read the book before, it was with a review deadline in mind, which meant I had to move through it within a set timeframe. This time, however, I want to take a slower, more reflective approach.
I plan to sit with this book, immerse myself in each sutra for as long as it takes, explore its meaning, apply its teachings, and gradually imbibe the essence of Yoga.
There will be no rush, no pressure for perfection—just a mindful surrender to the process.
I hope this journey will help me evolve into the person I’m meant to be.
So, let’s begin this journey of learning and unlearning with the first sutra from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras:
अथ योगानुशासनम्
This sutra can be loosely translated as: Now, the discipline of Yoga.
This may look short and simple, but trust me, it’s anything but that. There’s so much for us to reflect upon here. For now, let’s sleep on it and see what insights it brings.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Tomorrow, we’ll dive deeper and reflect on this in detail.
Stay true to yourself, and stay awesome!
P.S. This post was first published, here.
