Michelle Young

The more we step into our authenticity the more we let go of the idea that other people's perceptions of us impact our self-worth. That's not to say we fly blindly by the seat of our pants; rather, it's a nod to the fact that we can see our own insecurities and we recognize other people's insecurities as old material. We can apply discernment through our practice and ignite the internal flame of tapas to release the limiting beliefs that hold us in behavioral patterns that keep us playing small. As you prepare for the new year, think about the beliefs that serve and the ones that don't and ask yourself what beliefs you're ready to release.

As we come together to be with family remember that others are not responsible for our happiness, nor are we responsible for theirs. When we feel an activation it's a result of our insecurities bubbling up. Rather than reacting to these activations, we can acknowledge how they make us feel about our self-worth. THIS is where the work is and THIS is how we apply yoga off the mat.

Pandiculation is the process of stretching and resetting the nervous system. Animals do it all the time, but sometimes we forget that we can reset our nervous system with a simple stretch. The next time you're feeling stressed pandiculate! It might make you feel better :)

Make room at your table for everyone. When people feel included the world is a better place.

I'm so grateful for props. They support me, give me space, and help me to realize my potential. How do you use props in your practice?

How do you incorporate yoga into your parenting? Is it with postures, philosophy, or other practices? As we approach the holidays consider how you can incorporate yoga into your parenting. How do you think it would impact your children and future generations?

I'll never forget how it felt to open my heart when I first started practicing yoga. It was excruciating. I didn't understand why, but when I would practice heart openers my whole nervous system would disengage. One of the things I've realized through my practice is to notice the pattern and choose the opposite. When I recognized I was avoiding backbends I decided to develop an intimate relationship with them. That work led me to the understanding that my postural conditioning was nothing more than a coping strategy to prevent me from getting hurt. Now I can lean into the sensations and allow for the opening.

We just made it to the Blue Lagoon after a week on retreat in Iceland. This was my second retreat in Iceland and it was amazing. Over the next three days, we'll be unwinding and relaxing here in a frozen paradise. I'll be back and teaching my regularly scheduled classes this Saturday. Drop in and be my guest 10:30 a.m. at My Vinyasa Practice on ACC Highland's campus.

Interested in joining Kaytee Hernandez and me in Nice, France next July? Hop on over to the website and check out the 2023 retreats. Many are full, but we do have a wait list. Kaytee and I will be leading Nice together, Tara Cleven and I will be leading Ireland, and Siva and I will be leading our month-long pilgrimage to India in August. What are you waiting for? Book your spot and set your spirit free!

There is nothing wrong with using props. In fact, props help us to feel stable in some of the most advanced asanas. The next time you roll out your mat challenge yourself to use props. Notice how it shifts your perspective and your practice.