When I do yoga, I feel beautiful. As someone who has always struggled with her self esteem, weight, and “plainness” when it comes to our society’s definition of beauty, that’s a big part of why yoga has become such a central part of my life. It’s not just a feeling of physical beauty, although I do feel physically beautiful as I strongly move and flow into and out of various asanas (even those with which challenge me), it’s more than that. It’s a connected feeling of spirit and body and mind with the Universe around me. It’s a celebration of my life and the gifts (physically, mentally, spiritually) with which I am blessed. It’s an amazingly powerful feeling.
I think that feeling is part of the reason I’m so passionate about sharing yoga through teaching. If even one person who has ever doubted their beauty, their value, their ability, their connection to the world around them, can come to class and get a glimpse of that empowering peace that I feel wash over me when I practice, then my study and my work as a teacher has value. I have been able to contribute to the world becoming a better, more beautiful, more compassionate place in which we all live. And that to me is the amazing gift that is my vocation as a yoga teacher.
namaste
JMavin Massage 
This is such a wonderful post, thanks for sharing : )
I feel the same way. When I step onto my mat, I am in a zone that is protected by a bubble. Negativity cannot penetrate. Not to mention, my thoughts, stress, tension, and to-do lists are not welcomed onto my mat. It becomes a sacred place where I can be me without the chatter and without judgment. Yoga always brings me back to what is important in life.
Great post, Jen, thank you!I need reminding of this all the time. The dang yoga magazines with the hotpants girls really do send out the wrong message. This, yours, this is the message we should be sending.Thank you.