Breath. Moving in and out of my lungs. Expansion and contraction of my chest.
Fluidity from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
Heart pounding, pulsating through my body quickening as its rhythm aligns with my breath.
Legs uncontrollably shake. They burn and singe. A feeling of being alive like I’ve never felt before.
The strength that courses through my veins after holding a posture longer than I thought was possible. Then the sweet release of tension as I bow down into forward fold.
When downward dog feels like a break and my breath is the only thing that’s present in my mind, I know I’ve arrived.
My happy place.
The sensations throughout my body. Making adjustments and really feeling the poses.
Lighting up my hands rooting my feet and grounding myself.
Tensing loosening relaxing and tightening all at the same time. Sweat dripping from every pore.
I never have felt stronger, more powerful, more alive.
Like the high after a long run, I feel a different kind of high here. Still exhilarating, but more satisfying.
Knowing that I’m nourishing my mind and body, challenging myself physically, but no longer hurting myself. Empowerment knows no bounds.
Find what you love. Find what makes you feel alive without sacrificing your mind or your physical well-being. Find what connects you to yourself. What clears your mind what opens your heart and what makes you feel YOU.
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Up until this point, I thought I knew the things in life that make me feel good….that make me feel alive. But I am learning that in reality I am just now discovering what really brings meaning into my life. I feel like I am really coming into my own and gaining a better understanding of what my true passions, likes, dislikes, and inspirations are. For such a long time I think I was forcing myself into certain activities, certain thought patterns, because I thought they were right or what I should be doing. So it’s been really enlightening to start connecting back with my mind and body lately and having numerous new realizations about who I am and what defines me.
It’s a process of trial and error, but to me it’s exciting to be trying new things, discovering new loves, and learning more about myself in the process.
But right now, being on my mat, is providing me with my happy place. I encourage you to take a look inside yourself and see if you have one of your own. A place where you feel totally at peace. No judgements, no negative thoughts, no worries, and no fears. A happy place doesn’t even have to be a place, though. It can be a memory, a mindset, or breathing pattern. It’s a state of mind that allows you to take a vacation from yourself for a little bit. Whatever centers you, brings you ease, and reminds you despite everything else, no matter what thoughts are plaguing you, no matter what commitments you have to accomplish, no matter what pressures the world is putting on you….you are alive, you are breathing, and in this moment, you’re okay.
No questions for today, but just a suggestion to take some time to reflect on the things that make you feel whole and the places that make you feel alive. Go out and find your happy place.
Kaila
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Todays’s Healthy Help: Cleaned the porch for my parents!
Never too early to start Lending a {Healthy} Hand for this week’s round-up! Tell me what you’ve done to help someone else lately!
13 responses to “My Happy Place”
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yes!! love this! so glad that you’ve found your ‘happy place’. yoga is such a beautiful thing and i can’t wait to hear where your practice takes you!
It’s really amazing when you do find your happy place. My mat is definitely my happy place too!
Beautiful! I love the shake and burn of a challenging pose to make me feel alive. Very happy place.
ahhh lately still looking.
Beautifully written! The joy from the mat definitely resonates, knowing I’m doing good for myself, feeling good, to be well for the long haul. I also recently have discovered my happy place in my solitude, and accepting my introversion 🙂
Beautifully written! The joy from the mat definitely resonates, knowing I’m doing good for myself, feeling good, to be well for the long haul. I also recently have discovered my happy place in my solitude, and accepting my introversion 🙂
I’ve got to stop neglecting yoga… my happy place is my CrossFit gym, though.
Right now, instead of running, my happy place is yoga.
I need to get back into doing yoga! I’ve been really finding my groove when it comes to running lately but I know yoga will help me recover better. And it just feels good!
So nice you are finding solace in yoga , and enjoying the time on your mat. Do you mind if I ask( no pressure to answer obvs), in what way(s) did you find that running was hurting you?
Beautiful! You’re totally inspiring me to keep going back to my yoga mat… Why do I ever have trouble doing so?
Yoga and hiking are my happy places.
Being on my yoga mat is definitely one of my favorite places to be. My true “happy place” is most certainly when I’m with my husband and children, but time spent on my yoga practice and in meditation and prayer is a close second. 😉