Welcome to my blog, All Things Yoga.
My personal journey with yoga has been one of the most rewarding things in my life. It also has, and continues to, force me to grow in ways that sometimes seem a struggle with my Self. The union of these two is something that I love about the practice, and something that draws me back again and again.
This blog is about all things yoga. But, because yoga is about so much more than what many people tend to think of when we hear the term “yoga” (lithe women doing advanced postures), it’s going to be about more than “just yoga.” This blog is a space for me to share and explore my experiences with my practice and with the practice, as well as a space for me to record some interesting facts and news about yoga, general health information, updates on my research on yoga (if you’re curious, you can read a bit more about it in the About Me section of my blog), and some of my favorite companies/products for yoga-related goodies and healthy, sustainable living. I plan on writing about my journey to become a certified yoga teacher within the next year or two, something that I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t been able to actualize quite yet. If you’d like to join me on my path, this would be a gift, and I hope some of the information I share will benefit you.
A little bit about me is probably in order, considering my interests will influence what shows up here. Obviously, I’m big on yoga! No surprise there. I’ve been practicing yoga for 10 years since I was 16 years old. In my younger years I was a horseback rider, a pianist, a student of martial arts, and a scientist. I’ve grown out of these roles, and into new ones. Now, I’m an artist (Amara Miller Arts), a sociologist, a teacher, a (perpetual) student, a book worm, a gardener, and a dog-lover and owner (I’m sure my pups will show up on this blog at some point, it’s inevitable). My dissertation research is on the popularization of yoga in the United States from the 1960s until now and on issues of access and inequality. I’m also a “bit” obsessed with yoga leggings (but really, who wouldn’t be?). Sustainability is something near and dear to my heart.
One of the lessons of yoga that I have been internalizing and working through lately has been the nature of growth. Growth is change; constant, slow, struggle that sometimes leaves you aching and sore, but ultimately makes you stronger. That sort of growth can be frightening, and challenging, and doubt-inducing. But we must do the thing we fear most to conquer doubt. This blog, for me, is stepping outside my comfort zone and into the growth zone.
I believe it will ultimately make me stronger. And, according to Buddha, “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” I think the same thing goes for strength. We don’t lose strength by giving it to others; it is not decreased by being shared. It makes us all strong.
Love, light, and…
yoga ❤
The Sociological Yogi 