facebook
flickr
twitter
youtube

  • Home
  • Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Schedule
    • Fees
    • About Bend
    • Testimonials
    • Gallery
  • Thai Massage
  • Trainings – Thai Massage and YTT
  • Yoga Thoughts


A thought on self-love…

June 22, 2015
by Joanne Pettit-Myers
0 Comment

Sometimes the hardest thing in this world is learning to love yourself. Sounds crazy as I type it, as I re-read it… but then again… I’m sure that some of you are nodding your heads as you read this. I mean, have you ever had one or more of these thoughts:

  • I’m just not good enough
  • I have to be “this” way or “that” way in order to be liked or loved
  • I’ll never figure it out
  • I’m just not pretty enough
  • I can only love myself when I feel I am loveable to others..?

 

Or what about behaviours?

  • Do you try to change yourself for someone else?
  • Do you fake a love for a music genre?  a sport?  a hobby? in order to have someone THINK that they love you?
  • Do you feel you need to change yourself to be loved?

 

These are just a few questions I pulled off the top of my head as I drink a cup of tea this morning… ahhhhh tea.  That is a journey I am on right now.  I grew up drinking tea and then with partners would change to coffee or tea depending on what they drank.  Now, I switch it up every morning.  Today is a tea day.  I am trying to decide for myself what I like.  I don’t want to change to please someone.  I don’t want to feel I need to change for someone.  That need is a pattern.  Patterns I bring to my practice.

When we practice yoga we allow ourselves to simply be who we are.  All of these patterns come up and we can examine them in our lives.  How do they affect our bodies, our psyches..?  And are we being honest about who we are?  What we want for our lives?  What we enjoy?

I’m sure some of you are thinking, “What?  THAT’S yoga?”  Ha ha.  Yes.  THAT is yoga.  Sure we get do all of this with movement and shapes — these movements and shapes we call “asana” — but the crux of the practice is the journey to the self.  Figuring out our patterns and trying to learn from them so that we can ultimately lead better lives.

What are you bringing to your mat today?

Who are you… really?

About the Author
Joanne has been practicing yoga for almost 20 years and teaching since 2005. She did her initial Hatha teacher training in Vancouver at Prana Yoga Teacher College with shakti mhi. Joanne then moved on to travel to India where she trained in the Ashtanga practice and Yoga Therapies in Mysore. Joanne continues to take workshops and study yoga philosophy and meditation, most recently studying with Sadie Nardini and her Core Strength Vinyasa Flow style... Read More
Social Share
  • google-share

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

captcha *

Sign in / Class Registration

Testimonials

My back has not felt this good in at least 2 years.  My golf swing is awesome.  I can actually follow through and I love you!
Diane Sauve
Hi Joanne! I just wanted to say how much I love attending your classes. My mood is always 100% better when I leave. It’s awesome!
Renee Perreault
Joanne, I really loved the yoga/kettlebell class. I have taken kettlebell classes in the past however your instructions and reminders with each exercise were so helpful that I feel I got so much more out of the class; and my tired muscles the next day confirmed it. The combination of yoga and a kettlebell workout, to add some greater conditioning, is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Joanne!
Luanne Kendall
Fantastic class.  I loved every bit of it.  The moves, the music and your words.  I can’t believe that there is always something new after all of this time.  Thank you so much.
Jenny Mazur
It is because of you and your “no judgement”, that I now do yoga – I never liked it before I went to a class with you.  Thank you Joanne!
Brooke Cranston
Can’t believe I have been going for two months and I learn something new about my body every day. Joanne is amazing!
Melissa Macnabb
Joanne – my elbow feels 100x better!!  I woke up this morning and I could straighten it with no pain or hesitation.  This is amazing.  You are amazing!  This is the first time in 8 months where I am pain free.  I want to cry.  I wasn’t even expecting you to treat my elbow when I came in – I was just thinking I was getting a massage.
Christine - Thai Massage Client

Bend Yoga Studios, Dundas, ON
289-788-8800 • joanne@bendyoga.ca