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thepersonalyogi

* * “The conjunction of effort, concentration an

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* “The conjunction of effort, concentration and balance in asana forces us to live intensely in the present moment, a rare experience in modern life.” - B.K.S. Iyengar
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#urdhvapadmasana #upwardlotus #yoga #spreadtheyogalove #yogaeverydamnday #bksiyengar #iloveyoga #effort #concentration #balance #present

* * ...and suddenly, you know. It is time to start

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...and suddenly,
you know. It is time to start something new and trust in the magic of new beginnings
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#spreadtheyogalove #halasana #plowpose #yogaeverydamnday #yoga #magic #stars #2020 #shoot for the stars

“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short” *

“To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short”
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I have always struggled with balance because I am a bit an “all or nothing” person. I either do something in full conscience with my entire heart and soul or I don’t do it at all.
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When I started doing yoga I soon encountered the limitations of my body. I allowed my mind to push me beyond those limits because I wanted to deepen into to pose, master it as quick as possible. I was pushy, greedy, even vain when it came to the “picture perfect” yoga posture. This resulted more than once in injuries.
Experiencing that made me go way beyond my mat and I realized the same pattern in every day life: my mind dictating to keep going, to be better, stronger, quicker. To not stop no matter what.
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I have also had times where I fully listened to my body, not letting the mind interfere. The pitfall was that I only did what felt good (read: the poses that came easy to me). I stopped advancing in my practice and even lost interest in doing any of the poses out of boredom.
This part also reflected back in other parts of my life. Nicely sticking to my comfort zone, getting stuck in situations and incapable of change or advancement.
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So now I try not to overdo without becoming lazy. Listen to my body, my soul, my emotion and at the same time let my mind guide me and give me a little push just every now and then without taking over. I remind myself that it is outside the comfort zone where the magic happens ✨✨
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Yoga is truly a journey of the self, through the self...and it goes way beyond the poses and the mat💛

#yogaeverydamnday #spreadtheyogalove #confucius #yoga #prasaritapadottanasana #balance #magic #bhagavatgita #liforme #yogajourney #yogateacher #yogastudent #iloveyoga #wideleggedforwardfold

Practicing standing splits and handstand. First t

Practicing standing splits and handstand.

First time I tried a handstand with my face and belly towards the wall. Must say it was a bit scary...that feeling of *almost* tipping over.

I am gonna practice falling out of poses like headstand and handstand (thanks @adellbridges and @kickassyoga ) to loose the fear of falling. Cause without fear, the sky is the limit :-). Any tips?

#urdhvaprasaritaekapadasana #standingsplits #adhomukhavrksasana #handstand #yogaeverydamnday #spreadtheyogalove #iloveyoga #nofearoffalling

💛 feels good to be back 💛 After a wonderful

💛 feels good to be back 💛

After a wonderful yoga teacher retreat @yogasoleil30 and a relaxing holiday in Burgundy, I’m back refreshed, renewed and with plenty of inspiration for classes.
#macbodyandmind #yoga #flowyoga #crowposevariation #spreadtheyogalove #liforme #gard #bourgogne #france #maastricht

“Transformation is sustained change and it is ac

“Transformation is sustained change and it is achieved through practice”

Transformation in progress. In other words, shedding my old skin and emotions, and transforming them into something bigger and better.
#yoga #spreadtheyogalove #transformation #shoulderstand #salambasarvangasana #snakeprint #snakespiritanimal

“The pose you avoid most, you need most” I *h

“The pose you avoid most, you need most”

I *hate* camel pose. Or to put it more mildly, I have a genuine aversion to it. I don’t like the feeling it gives me. It’s like wanting to throw up and choking at the same time.

So what do I do? I challenge myself to dig in to this aversion, what it brings out in me and why. Almost like befriending an enemy. And perhaps one day being able to say what you say at the start of any good friendship: “when I first met you I thought you were a real bitch...but you turned out to be pretty amazing” ❤️ #spreadtheyogalove #yogaeverydamnday #camelpose #ustrasana

A while ago a read the words below and they stuck

A while ago a read the words below and they stuck to me, like sometimes words do. I realized the honesty and truth in the words is what touched me most. I realized it represents how yoga makes me feel, every damn day ❤️ “I do not consider myself less ignorant than most people. I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teachings my blood whispers to me. My story is not a pleasant one; it is neither sweet nor harmonious, as invented stories are; it has the taste of nonsense and chaos, of madness and dreams--like the lives of all men who stop deceiving themselves. Each man's life represents a road toward himself, an attempt at such a road, the intimation of a path. No man has ever been entirely and completely himself. Yet each one strives to become that-one in an awkward, the other in a more intelligent way, each as best he can.” - Hermann Hesse / Demian

#yoga #yogaeverydamnday #spreadtheyogalove #hermannhesse #demian #neverstoplearning #neverstoploving #neverstopwondering

❤️ Open the heart and unleash the power of lov

❤️ Open the heart and unleash the power of love, happiness and kindness ❤️ #yoga #chakrasana #wheelpose #urdhvadhanurasana #spreadtheyogalove #love #openheart #yogaeverydamnday

Always be yourself...unless you can be a mermaid,

Always be yourself...unless you can be a mermaid, than always be a mermaid 🧜‍♀️ This one is for my mermaid twin @rozziejoyceshamanic 💛

Mermaid pose doesn’t just look pretty. It’s benefits are numerous:

It tones the muscles in the lower back, hip, thighs, psoas, abdomen, chest, shoulders, neck, hamstring, pelvic, and calves.
As the abdominal muscles and psoas muscles are put to work, they stimulate the internal abdominal organs. This stimulation activates digestion.
It also stimulates the pancreas, liver and kidney improving their physiological function.

The pelvic muscles are stretched and toned giving room for improved reproductive system and better control over sexual desire.

The chest muscles, due to the expansion, gives room for good functioning of the lungs and proper functioning of the heart.
The neck stretch gives room for balancing the thyroid glands.

The pose also improves your balance.

Because of all of the above it reduces any form of lower back irritation or leg cramps. Neck stiffness is prevented of cured and it can help heal migraines. Sagging shoulders can be corrected. Cramps from menstrual cycle for women can be reduced or even disappear. Overall it improves any nervous imbalance as the entire spine is stretched.

Shall I continue?

I 💛 yoga 🧘‍♀️ #yoga #ekapadarajakapotasana #mermaid #mermaidpose #spreadtheyogalove #yogaeverydamnday

Taming the monkey mind 🐒 and going with the flo

Taming the monkey mind 🐒 and going with the flow 💛
Practicing splits, taking a leap of faith into monkey pose... #yoga #spreadtheyogalove #yogaeverydamnday #hanumanasana #splits #monkeypose

“Yoga is not about tightening your ass. It’s a

“Yoga is not about tightening your ass. It’s about getting your head out of it”

The physical benefits of yoga are well known. Yoga improved my body on various levels. Of course that’s rewarding and a big plus 🤸‍♀️ But the real benefit is found within. The connection and the listening to my body, being able to see and feel what’s happening on the inside and experiencing the teachings of my body to my self are simply magic 💛🧘‍♀️✨ It makes me feel alive and calm, humble and fierce all at the same time.
It makes me realize there is so much more to yoga than flexing and stretching.
It makes me feel connected to something bigger, where contrast and balance are always present.

It shows me the yin and the yang. It shows me my strengths and my flaws. It shows me I’m just a drop in the ocean and at the same time I’m the entire ocean in a drop.

I 💛 yoga. Namaste 🙏🏼. #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #spreadtheyogalove #karnapidasana #rumi #yinyang

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you

“What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create”

Melting heart or puppy pose feels soooo good ❤️ #yoga #spreadtheyogalove #anahatasana #yogaeverydamnday #meltingheart #puppypose

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”
#yoga #tripodheadstand #variation #yogaeverydamnday #practiceandalliscoming #inversion #muktahastasirsasana #sirsasana

It is hard to keep your balance standing tippy toe

It is hard to keep your balance standing tippy toe!
Looks easier than it is to breathe, keep your calm 🙏🏼 and hold in these tangly balancing 🥨 poses.
#yoga #yogaeverydamnday #balance #tippytoes #keeptrying #calm #breathe #spreadtheyogalove

Be F E A R L E S S in the pursuit of what sets you

Be F E A R L E S S in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire 🔥
I always feared crow pose. The feeling of falling flat on my face, literally. Through practice, patience and that little inner voice telling me “yes you can” I learned about trusting myself and listening to my own body. I learned to not let my mind interfere with my gut and my heart. Yoga brings so much more than flexibility and strength 💛

#crowpose #bakasana #yogapractise #patience #trust #fearless #practicing #jumpback

💛 She wears strength and darkness equally well,

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She wears strength and darkness equally well,
She has always been half goddess, half hell.
She knows, accepts and loves herself in mind, body and spirit,
She embraces experience in life, will never fear it.
She makes her life in to anything she wants and has unlimited capacity,
She gives to those around her with abundance and voracity.
She is filled with love, passion, peace and joy,
She is superwoman, she’s your wonderboy.
She focuses on personal growth, inner-peace and self awareness,
She is a unique soul, an undeniable rareness.
She is sunbeamed, she is moonlit,
She is magic and she owns her shit 💛
#goddesssquat #goddess #poetry #utkatakonasana #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogini #yogateacher #yogagoddess #lamagie #lameagit #spreadtheyogalove

“The beauty of a lake reflects the beauty around

“The beauty of a lake reflects the beauty around it. When the mind is still, the beauty of the soul is reflected in it”

Allow nature to teach you stillness. Stop every now and then. Take a breath, relax. Be alone with yourself, without distractions. Within you there is a stillness, a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself. Go there, feel it and enjoy the magic 💛

#bksiyengar #hermanhesse #meditation #yoga #nature #caumasee #stillness #magic #thesoulknows #spreadtheyogalove

“We don’t use the body to get into a pose, we

“We don’t use the body to get into a pose, we use the pose to get into the body”
#balasana #childpose #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #breathe #awareness #introspection #trust #whathappensinside

You turn my world upside down 💛 Let’s check

You turn my world upside down 💛

Let’s check out a few benefits of headstand (or any other inversion):
* It energizes the body. Works better than a cup of coffee ☕️ * It helps to flush your system and detoxify the body * It improves circulation throughout your body
* It helps with the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, sensory organs and the face. Even your wrinkles will benefit from it!
* It teaches you to get out of your habits and take a break from the usual
* Being upside down changes your perspective and view on yourself and the world around you

When moving in to headstand remember to shift your focus inwards practicing awareness, compassion and patience. Don’t compare yourself to others. Feel what it is like to not be able to lift the feet off the first couple of times, to loose balance, to feel scared, to get frustrated...but to also feel what it is like to get back in, try again and eventually turn your own world upside down! Persevere, don’t give up. Have fun and laugh hard at you own fails and bloopers (there will be plenty, believe me 😂) To do a headstand the yogi way, follow the next steps. Start close to a wall if you’re afraid of tipping over.
1. Stack shoulders above the wrists.
2. Place elbows on the floor at shoulder-width distance: measure by grasping your elbows with your hands when placing them on the floor.
3. Cup the hands and place the back of your head against the cup. The crown of your head into the floor.
4. Curls the toes into the floor, stretch your legs and start to walk the feet towards your body until you can’t walk them in any further.
5. Press the elbows firmly into the floor, (shoulders away from the ears), draw your navel in and up to engage the core and gently lift one foot off the floor.
6. Lift the other foot off the floor as well and test your balance: core engaged, ribs in.
7. Start to straighten the legs upwards, engaging core and legs. Align heels, hips and shoulders.

And voilà, you’re in a headstand. When more confident move away from the wall, play with the legs for even more balancing challenge.

Namaste 🙏🏼
#headstand #yogaeverydamnday #yoga #sirsasana #compassion #perseverance #patience

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