14 February Jen February 14, 2013 Many Different Types of Love Hot Yoga, Life, Mind, Yoga Benefits of Hot Yoga, body mind life, dallas hot yoga, hot yoga, love, Sunstone Yoga, yoga love, yoga practice 0 Comment It would appear there are many different types of love. Most of us have felt the thrill of new love: that exciting rush of a new relationship. Parental love is, at its best, unconditional, all-encompassing, unending and at times, overwhelming. Sibling love is perhaps as powerful as parental love, though sometimes tumultuous and unpredictable. Love between friends, both male and female is usually a more patient, supportive love. However, are these many versions of love really any different? I offer that love, in its truest form, is not just something we give and then seek to find. True love is something we build within ourselves until it simply cannot be contained, spilling over and out from us like a waterfall! Love is not truer because it is shared by romantic partners, rather than one brother for another, one child for its mother. It is truer because it comes from the deepest place within us - a place of full self-acceptance. Yoga teaches us to love and accept ourselves within our practice, regardless of any outcome in the present moment. It is not important whether you hold your standing bow for the entire 60 seconds without falling. It is only important that you see each fall as an opportunity to stand again. This is our inner yoga practice which extends outside of the yoga room. Similarly, it is not important that you make no mistakes in your life, or your relationships. It is important that we begin to see our mistakes as triumphs in becoming more, rather than circumstantial evidence of our failure as a human being. As creators, we become more by embracing our miss-steps, and arranging them into stepping stones to whatever higher place we seek. We have heard the expression, "love is not a noun, but a verb." From this perspective, loving is something we do in the world, rather than just something that happens to us. We have control over the amount of love we send out, which in turn tends to affect the love we draw towards us. If we withhold love from others, we withhold it from ourselves, as well. We cannot be that love we wish to see in the world, without knowing what it is to feel that love for ourselves first—to see our own love action as a force strong enough to change the world. Nurturing our practice is one way we love our bodies and strengthen our minds. Making the time for that care is not selfish, but necessary. My practice at Sunstone reminds me that simply being in the yoga room is enough to help me grow. Yoga is a gift we may give ourselves in any moment we decide to breathe in gratitude, and exhale love. Jen Wanamaker - Sunstone Team Member Related Articles Designated Manager Recognition Have you ever thought about what or who really makes Sunstone’s studios run? Managers, an integral part of the studio life force, a center point that gives energy while keeping things on track. We couldn't do it without them! Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. Personal Transformation Through Yoga I lived with depression, anxiety and poor health throughout my teenage and most of my adult life. Even through all of that I knew that I needed to make positive changes in my life but I did not know what, where or how to begin to make those changes. Yet this unexplainable feeling deep within me knew that I needed to start this journey as soon as possible. I was guided to a lady who practiced yoga and meditation and she shared with me the benefits that she had gained from years of practice. So I began to research both subjects Born to Move Since the recent NYT article “How yoga Can Wreck Your Body.” I have seen a number of comments on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and via email. On the one hand I was sad that yoga (in general) was getting bad press as I personally know of the positive effects it brings to many people’s lives. On the other hand I felt a sense of vindication for 10 years of standing strong on: What to Wear for Hot Yoga You have decided you’re going to practice hot yoga. Good for you! Comments are closed.