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Why Does Yoga Feel Like Coming Home?

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Yoga gives us the space to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us.

A yoga practice can help us meet stress with more awareness and self-compassion.

Sometimes yoga is less about what your body can do and more about what it needs.

When I was 16, I first walked into a yoga studio. The lighting was dim, the music was zen, and the décor oozed comfort and calm. My nervous system seemed to let out a big sigh, and my whole body immediately felt more grounded. It felt like I had arrived home.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last. When I tried to sign up, I was told they didn’t allow students under 18. I was heartbroken, but I walked out knowing that I would find my way back to yoga one day.

It took another decade before I fully embraced it. Within that decade, I dabbled. I tried a gym yoga class that was far too fitness-oriented; a beach holiday class where the teacher clearly didn’t want to be there; and a trendy London class where I felt like most people were there simply because yoga was cool.

I was looking for something else. I wanted yoga that connected me to myself and my well-being. I wanted something that went beyond fitness and into the mind, body, and spirit connection.

So, in the middle of a difficult breakup, I started following yoga videos on YouTube. I started, and I never really stopped. I quickly found Yoga with Adriene, whose guidance I’ve followed ever since. I’ve tried other classes and even a week-long retreat, but it's practicing at home that I love most. Partly because my dog Bond likes to join me, adding challenges such as sitting his 34-kilogram body on me during an ab workout or licking my face when I'm........

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