We come to yoga for many reasons.

To improve balance, strength, and flexibility. To reduce stress, lower blood pressure, or lose weight. And all of these things will happen—because you’re moving in ways that feel good and being kind to your body.

But yoga isn’t about what you look like.

Sometimes people are hesitant about yoga because they’re unsure of what to expect or what’s expected of them. Often, people say, "I’m not flexible enough for yoga."

The good news: Yoga isn’t a competition. There are no tournaments, races, or gold medals.

You can let go of the idea that you have to be any certain way.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to a fixed idea of what yoga “should” look like. But when that becomes your goal, yoga becomes just another source of stress. The very thing you came to do to reduce stress can start to cause it.

Instead, make feeling good the goal.

This is the true essence of Move. Breathe. Belong. Yoga is about how you feel—in your body, in your breath, and in your spirit.

Move. Move in a way that feels right for you, honoring your body’s natural rhythm.
Breathe. Breathe deeply to bring you back to the present moment.
Belong. Belong to yourself, and to a community that embraces you just as you are.

When we shift our focus from perfecting the pose to simply feeling good in our bodies, healing starts to happen. Not just in our bodies, but in our lives.

This is why I love this practice.

One of my teachers, Tara Stiles, the founder of Strala, says, “We practice yoga not to get good at yoga but to get good at being ourselves.” This philosophy is what drew me to this practice—a natural, fluid way of moving that encourages authenticity over perfection.

You don’t have to do it perfectly.

All you have to do is slow down, breathe deeply, and feel. And when you do you’ll begin to rewild your body, reconnect with your true self, and experience a deeper sense of belonging.