When we take time to slow down—whether it’s once a week or once a day—we allow the wisdom of the body to surface. We get quiet enough to hear what’s underneath the noise. We learn to trust the pauses.

Ayurveda looks at each person as a whole being — mind, body, and spirit — and sees health as a balance of these parts, in harmony with nature.

Yoga actually has a lot to say about creativity. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali teaches that our true self—Ātman—is already whole, already full of light and creative energy.

Here’s the truth: when we’re triggered—especially by conflict—our nervous system goes into fight-or-flight mode. The logical part of the brain shuts down, and our primal brain takes over. That’s why we say things we don’t mean. That’s why we can’t think clearly. That’s why everything feels like a threat.

Yoga helps us become aware of these natural rhythms—not just in our bodies, but in our lives. Through mindful movement and breath, we start to recognize that expansion and contraction are both necessary.

The world doesn’t need more perfection. It doesn’t need more judgment. It needs more love.

I think many of us fall into this pattern of imitation because we’re afraid. We’re afraid we don’t measure up. We believe the lie that someone else’s version of success is the only version.

Somehow, over the years, yoga has developed a reputation for being... exclusive. You know what I mean—images of perfectly toned bodies in sleek leggings, practicing on a pristine mountaintop or in a candlelit studio with the ideal ambiance.

How Yin and Restorative Look Similar—But Feel Very Different

If you walked by a Yin class and a Restorative class, you might think they’re the same. They’re both slow. Both happen mostly on the floor. Both involve long holds.

But they serve very different purposes.

But this is the thing: our dogs are our spiritual companions. They teach us to love unconditionally. They model presence in ways we humans struggle to embody. And they show up—even if their version of “asana” is just taking a nap next to the mat.

If I had a dollar for every time someone looked me dead in the eye and said, “I can’t do yoga because I can’t touch my toes,” I’d be floating around the globe teaching yoga from a private jet—or at the very least, sipping something sparkly from a hammock in Bali.

Let’s just say it: yoga has a bit of a PR problem.

Somewhere along the way, especially in Western culture, yoga got packaged as a trendy workout—a way to get long, lean muscles, tone your abs, and maybe show off a headstand on Instagram. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with building strength or feeling good in your body (those are beautiful things!). But that’s just a tiny piece of what yoga really is.

Yoga isn’t a fitness routine—it never was.

One of the most common things you’ll hear in a yoga class is that twisting poses “detox the liver and organs.” I’ve heard it. I’ve probably even said it years ago. And let’s be honest—it sounds amazing. Who wouldn’t want to squeeze out all the toxins and walk away from practice like a brand-new person?

One of the most profound ways yoga supports mental health is through nervous system regulation. This might sound scientific, but it’s actually quite intuitive.

Your nervous system has two main settings: sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest). In our fast-paced world, many of us get stuck in the sympathetic mode, constantly alert, on edge, and exhausted.

Yoga gently invites us into the parasympathetic mode, where healing happens.

Let’s be real—life has been a lot lately.

Many of us are carrying silent grief, stretched thin by responsibilities, or quietly wrestling with anxiety about the world. And yet, we’re expected to keep going like everything’s fine. Scroll through social media. Smile through meetings. Stay productive. Be okay.

But we’re not just looking for “okay” anymore. We’re craving something deeper—something that can hold the weight of all we’ve been through. We want connection. We want kindness. We want to know we’re not alone.

The Medicine We’re All Searching For

When the world feels overwhelming, it's tempting to numb out, shut down, or lash out. But what if instead, we turned inward? What if we sat down, closed our eyes, and asked for love to fill our hearts and peace to settle in our minds?

This isn’t about bypassing reality or ignoring hard truths. It’s about resourcing ourselves so we can face those truths with grace. The world doesn’t need more reactive energy. It needs grounded, centered, spiritually connected humans who lead with love.

The Earth is not just our home. She is our mother, our partner, our sanctuary, and our mirror. She has sustained us with so much love. Clean air. Fresh water. Nourishing food. Beauty that heals. Shelter. Joy. Life.

April invites growth, just like a seed buried in the soil starts to stretch toward the light. But growth doesn’t always come easy. It requires gentleness, patience, and a willingness to let go of the old.

Using mantra and affirmation this month can help you:

• Shake off the heaviness of winter (literally and metaphorically)

• Reignite your personal intentions

• Connect with your inner strength and resilience

• Invite clarity and renewal

If you watch the news or listen to conversations behind you in line at the store, you’ll hear fear—woven into voices, reflected in word choices, spilling into the topics people are discussing. Fear is being plastered across social media, echoed in podcasts, and aired on YouTube videos. Why? Because fear captures attention. It keeps us on high alert, waiting for the next big shockwave. We are in changing times, and where there is change, there is fear. The two seem to dance the tango together—very dramatic, very intense. (Somebody cue the suspenseful music!)