Yoga as an Every Day Practice

I’m getting ready for our 2026 Yoga Teacher Training and I’m going to do something that I’ve been too scared(?) of doing in the past: leading more of the philosophy modules.  I’ve always felt that my knowledge wasn’t deep enough, not scholarly enough.  So to help bolster my confidence, I took a Yoga Sutra for Beginners type of course.  A short, easy-to-follow, one-hour course.  And it reminded me that I know all I need to know.  My yoga philosophy background isn’t underdeveloped; I just present it in a much simpler form.

An example of this is the mantra that I have been using in my public classes since September (and will continue to use throughout this year): ahimsa.  Ahimsa translates from Sanskrit into English as non-harming.  It is non-harming thoughts, words, actions.  Yoga philosophy usually posits ahimsa as something towards others.  I, on the other hand, turn it around and remind us that the person who most needs our ahimsa is ourselves. 

We may have harmful thoughts about others, we may even say harming words about others behind their backs (gossip), we rarely, if ever, precipitate harming actions towards others.  BUT we often speak unkindly to ourselves.  We often create unkind goals for ourselves, which can all lead to harmful actions.  I always remind students, science* has mapped out that every cell in our body hears every thought in our brain.  If our self-talk is negative, our cells are hearing this and it is harming them. 

1. Stress Reduction

   
   

   Negative thoughts often trigger stress, which leads to the release of cortisol, a hormone that can damage cells over time. Positive thinking, on the other hand, helps reduce stress and keeps cortisol levels balanced, creating a healthier environment for our cells to thrive.

2. Improved Cellular Repair

   
   

   Positive emotions have been linked to better immune system function. When we feel optimistic, our body is better equipped to repair damaged cells and fight off infections.

3. Telomere Protection

   
   

   Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes. Studies have shown that chronic stress and negativity can shorten telomeres, speeding up the aging process. Positive thinking may help preserve telomere length, potentially slowing cellular aging.

4. Enhanced Brain-Body Connection

   
   

   Thoughts and emotions travel through the brain’s neural pathways, affecting signals sent to the rest of the body. Positive thinking promotes a harmonious brain-body connection, leading to healthier cells and organs.

In the short course I just completed, the presenter, Nicolai Bachman, had a very simple and effective exercise you can try--imagine that your thoughts, words, actions are being recorded for 24 hours. How would they change?  Interesting, no?

And I’m going to leave you with a final yoga philosophy thought:  inner happiness drives outer behavior.

Xx

Jesi

* https://www.thenila.com/blog/positive-thinking-and-its-impact-on-our-cells