I hear this all the time:
“I’m not good at yoga.”
“I tried it once and couldn’t keep up.”
“I’m not flexible enough.”
“I felt behind the whole time.”
If you’ve ever said something like this, you’re not alone. And it doesn’t mean yoga isn’t for you.
It usually means the version of yoga you were introduced to didn’t match what your body needed at the time.
Where the Idea of “Being Good at Yoga” Came From
For many people, yoga has been framed as something you do well or do poorly.
Keeping up with the class.
Moving into certain shapes.
Holding poses longer.
Looking a certain way.
When yoga is presented this way, it can quietly turn into a performance. And for a lot of us that version doesn’t feel supportive. It feels discouraging, confusing, or even risky.
If yoga felt like something you had to push through, it makes sense that you stepped away.
What Yoga Actually Is
At its core, yoga isn’t about poses at all.
Yoga is awareness.
Awareness of your breath.
Awareness of sensation.
Awareness of effort and ease.
Awareness of thoughts and emotions as they arise.
Awareness of how you respond to yourself (and others) in each moment.
Yoga begins when you notice what’s happening—not when you achieve a certain shape.
That means yoga can look very different from one person to the next. And it can change from day to day.
How I Approach Yoga in My Work
I want to be clear about where I’m coming from.
I didn’t grow up practicing yoga, and I don’t come from the culture it originated in. I’ve learned yoga over time — through study, teaching, and lived experience — and I hold deep respect for its roots.
When I say my work is informed by yoga, I mean that it’s guided by awareness: of breath, body, thoughts, and how we meet ourselves with compassion. That lens shapes how I teach movement — especially for women whose bodies and lives are changing.
Why This Matters More As We Age
As our bodies change, awareness becomes more important—not less.
Energy fluctuates.
Joints need more consideration.
Recovery takes longer.
Nervous systems become more sensitive to overload.
This isn’t a problem to fix. It’s information to work with.
Movement that’s rooted in awareness helps you:
- move without pushing past signals
- build strength without strain
- stay connected to your body instead of overriding it
- feel safer and more confident as you move through daily life
In other words, awareness-based movement supports longevity.
Mindful Movement Is Yoga
Here’s something many people don’t realize:
If you’re paying attention to your breath, your body, and how movement feels—what you’re doing is yoga.
That includes:
- chair-supported movement
- slow, controlled strength work
- simple balance practices
- gentle flows
- breathing practices
- coordination and nervous system support
- that walk outside
You don’t need to be on a mat.
You don’t need to move quickly.
You don’t need to “keep up.”
If awareness is present, yoga is happening.
Why So Many Women Think Yoga Isn’t for Them
Many women who tell me yoga “didn’t work” for them weren’t failing at yoga.
They were listening to their bodies.
They sensed that pushing, forcing, or rushing wasn’t right—and they stepped away. That’s not quitting. That’s wisdom.
What was missing wasn’t effort.
It was support.
A Different Way In
Movement rooted in awareness starts with listening.
It’s not about doing more.
It’s not about perfect form.
It’s not about comparing yourself to anyone else.
It’s about choosing movements and practices that meet you where you are — and adjusting as life changes.
When movement fits your body and your life, consistency stops feeling like a battle. It becomes something you can return to.
A Gentle Reframe
If yoga didn’t work for you before, that doesn’t mean it never will.
It may simply mean you were taught a version that didn’t center awareness, choice, or compassion.
Yoga isn’t about poses.
It’s about paying attention.
And that kind of practice — rooted in awareness — is available to you, exactly as you are.
A Gentle Way to Experience This
If you’re curious what awareness-based movement can feel like — without committing to a class or routine — I’ve put together a short, supportive place to start.
It’s called Support Your Brain + Body, and it includes three short practices you can try at your own pace. Each one is designed to help you tune into your breath, your body, and what feels supportive right now — not what you think you should be able to do.
There’s no schedule to follow and no right way to move through them. You’re simply invited to notice what helps, return to what feels good, and leave the rest.
You can explore it here!
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