The Yoga of Relationships

To love others you must first love yourself

Leo Buscaglia

For some of us, Yoga is more than a physical practice.  It is a melding of mind, body, breath, and spirit.  It is a journey of self-discovery, a quest for inner truth, and an exploration of physical and mental boundaries.  All of this requires a true understanding and acceptance of yourself in time and space. 

It is, however, difficult to truly understand and accept yourself both in yoga and in life.  In yoga, for example, many bend their knees in a standing forward fold in order to touch the ground.  They refuse to admit or see that in order to keep legs straight, safely stretching the hamstrings, blocks need to be placed under their hands.  When folks become aware or accept the current state of their hamstrings, only then does true progress begin to happen – both physically and personally.  When you can take a cold hard look at yourself, love yourself even with societally perceived imperfections, you have reached a beautiful place of peace and growth.

What does touching your toes have to do with relationships?  In my opinion, everything.  Good relationships require honesty.  If you can’t be honest with yourself, how can you be honest with your significant other?  If you can’t accept and love yourself, how can someone else love you for who you really are?  And how can you love someone else if you don’t start from a place of acceptance and self-love? 

There is one fun fact about yoga and relationships.  Yoga not only encourages self-acceptance and self-love, a foundation for any relationship, but there are collateral benefits.  A regular yoga practice makes you happier and more confident with your body, as well as stronger and more flexible.  And these are all added benefits in the boudoir!