Hollistic health, centred on inner wellness
A Dara Knot Wellness blog
When you hear the word ‘yoga’, what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s an image of an impossibly flexible person in expensive leggings, holding a perfect pose on a beach somewhere. If you’re anything like me, that image can be… a lot. It can feel like another thing to be ‘good at’, another way to fall short. I used to feel like that. And then I took up yoga to at least gain a bit of flexibility while doing LudoSport, and do you know what?
I used to feel like that. Then I took up yoga to gain a bit of flexibility while doing LudoSport (a competitive light saber combat sport!), and do you know what I found?
I’m still not perfect, but I truly don’t care. It’s obvious that the practice is doing me the world of good. Coupled with cardio, it’s a way for me to stay active, have fun, and have a place to centre myself when things get tough.
That experience taught me the real secret: what if we took all the pressure and performance of “perfect yoga” and gently set it aside? What if we started to see it not as an athletic achievement, but as a practice of coming home to ourselves?
For those of us who live in our heads, who battle anxiety, or whose nervous systems are permanently a bit ‘frazzled’, that’s where yoga becomes one of the most powerful tools for our mental well-being.
It’s about far more than just stretching. Here are five ways it can support you.
We’ve talked before about our nervous system’s two modes: the ‘accelerator’ (fight-or-flight) and the ‘brake’ (rest-and-digest). Anxiety and stress mean our foot is constantly on the accelerator. The conscious, deep breathing that is central to yoga—known as pranayama—is a direct signal to your body to apply the brake. A long, slow exhale tells your brain, on a physiological level, that you are safe. It’s one of the quickest ways to soothe that internal ‘jangly’ feeling.
When you hold a pose like Warrior II for a few breaths, your thigh might start to burn. Your first instinct is to give up, to exit the pose immediately. Yoga teaches you to notice that sensation, breathe into it, and stay for another moment. This is a powerful micro-practice for real life. By learning to stay present with manageable physical discomfort on the mat, we build the mental muscle to stay present with emotional discomfort off the mat.
When we’re anxious or stressed, we tend to live entirely in our heads, treating our bodies as little more than taxis for our brains. Yoga gently rebuilds that lost connection. It improves your ‘interoception’—your ability to sense what’s going on inside your body. You start to notice, “Oh, my jaw is clenched,” or “My shoulders are up by my ears.” This practice of noticing is the first step in being able to respond with care.
If the thought of sitting in silent meditation feels like torture for your busy mind, yoga might be the perfect gateway to mindfulness. By focusing on linking your breath to each movement, you give your brain a gentle, rhythmic job to do. This focus can quiet the relentless chatter of your inner monologue, allowing you to experience moments of genuine mental peace and presence, all while in gentle motion.
There is no ‘winning’ at yoga. There is no finish line. Some days you will feel strong and balanced; other days you will feel stiff and wobbly. And that’s okay. The goal is simply to show up on your mat and meet yourself exactly where you are on that particular day, without judgement. This practice of radical self-acceptance is perhaps the greatest lesson of all, and it’s one that supports our mental health more than any perfect pose ever could.
So, maybe the goal isn’t to look like that person on the beach. Maybe the goal is just to roll out a mat in your living room, take one deep breath, and begin the quiet, powerful practice of coming home.
Do you have a yoga practice, or are you curious about starting? Dara Knot Wellness launches next month with chair yoga, journals and some other functional fitness work as a community. Join to start out with us on 1st November, and by the beginning of the holiday season, you’ll already be seeing the benefits!
If you already are doing yoga practices, please share in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
D Kai Wilson-Viola is an author, activist and lifelong learner. She believes in open, honest communication and holistic wellness that looks not only at how fit you are, but how fit your mind and emotions are in with it. A survivor with CPTSD and anxiety, Kai offers help and her shoulder to anyone that needs it.
When not managing blogs or coding, Kai can be found training at LudoSport, writing books of her own, editing for others, formatting and playing computer games. She has two cats and has been in a long term relationship for over 20 years.
All advice and information offered on this site is offered as is, and you should discuss any treatments you undertake with your GP or other healthcare provider. Unless otherwise identified, our experiences are shared in good faith, but are anecdotal and do not constitue medical advice, but instead, a starting point for your own healing journey.
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