My Self-care Temple

Self-care is not just about taking a time-out from life to rest or do something you enjoy mentally, but self-care is also about doing good things for your body. Taking care of your body heals your heart, mind and soul which facilitates the ability of your entire being to act as a vehicle for all of these elements of one’s self to function efficiently and in unison. If your body is not happy and healthy, you most likely have less to offer to your friends, your family, your work, your home. etc. For me, yoga was my form of self-care for most of my younger years that not only offered a quiet place to be with myself, but it also recharged my heart, mind and soul. Before I met my husband, I was a single girl living in the city with very few external obligations. It was easy to get on my mat at home or go to the yoga studio or attend retreats anytime I wanted.  

Once I became a wife and stepmom, I also gained the responsibilities of taking care of a household with multiple pets, paying the bills, doing laundry, shopping for groceries and so on. Life became incredibly hectic and more complicated. I began to lose pieces of myself that were once a big piece of my identity. As a result, my anxiety and depression became more and more of a challenge to manage. Additionally my body started to change, slowly eroding my self-esteem and comfort within my own skin. The love from my husband and stepson do fill my heart, but it is not the same as the way I filled my own heart by practicing yoga.  

Ten years have now flown by, and upon reflection, have opened up my eyes that now is the time to make changes. I am starting by committing to reawaken the yogi within myself. The yogi that once filled my heart, mind and soul. I have begun by signing up for a yoga retreat, led by a teacher who is very special to me. She has taught me so much on and off the mat throughout my life. It will be a challenge because, with time, my body has changed and I have become out of practice. These challenges will force me to change the expectations and patience I have for myself, which will translate to other areas of my life. This is also a great opportunity to practice the lesson of adjusting to my new self while engaging in the kind of self-care that once was my temple. I cannot wait for my yoga heart cup to be filled and find a piece of my original authentic self once again.