Yoga as a Space for Being, Not Changing

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my role as a yoga teacher and the messages I share, both in my classes and on social media. In the world of personal development and wellness, there's often an emphasis on transformation - on becoming a better version of yourself, achieving growth, and taking control of your own life. While there’s value in empowerment, I’ve started to question whether some of these messages unintentionally create pressure or make people feel like they need to change to be worthy.

One phrase I posted earlier this year — “Be the author of your own life” — made me pause. On the surface, it’s a message about agency and possibility. But I also don’t want my words to make anyone feel like they should be doing more, fixing themselves, or striving toward some ideal that doesn’t honor where they are right now. The truth is, yoga isn’t about becoming something different. It’s about coming home to yourself.

Yoga, at its heart, is a space for being, not changing. It’s a space to meet yourself exactly as you are … without judgment, without expectation. It’s about arriving on your mat with whatever you’re carrying, whether that’s joy, exhaustion, frustration, or peace, and knowing that it’s enough.

So as I continue to grow in my teaching, I want to be intentional about how I share yoga. Rather than encouraging people to seek transformation, I want to create an environment where they feel safe just being. Instead of framing things as, “Here’s how to improve your life,” I want to offer invitations, like: Your story is yours to tell, and you don’t have to be anything other than who you are in this moment.

This is a reminder I want to bring into my classes, my words, and my presence. Yoga isn’t about self-improvement; it’s about self-acceptance. And that’s enough.