Why is yoga connected to self-love?

This world desperately needs more love – this primarily results from each person loving themselves and opening their hearts. This has nothing to do with selfishness or arrogance; true self-love nourishes relationships with other people and fills the things you do with love and mindfulness. That's why it's so important to love yourself. This article explains why self-love is so important and how you can integrate it more into your life.

1. What is self-love and why should you have more of it?

Self-love encompasses a vast field that requires understanding. For example, it's directly related to body positivity, with self-love being the second most important aspect. Body positivity is about accepting your body. This can, of course, be made easier through yoga practice. Over time, you'll notice that certain yoga poses on the mat have an impact on your body, your strength, and your self-esteem. You'll become stronger and fitter, which automatically affects your posture.

Self-love in general includes the following areas:

• Self-reflection (reflecting on one's own thoughts, emotions, patterns, etc.)
• Self-awareness (the awareness of who you are – for example, without all your material possessions, without your job, without your fear, etc.)
• Self-worth (the knowledge that you are infinitely valuable)
• Self-confidence (the unbridled trust in yourself and that you can achieve anything you want; in Karma Yoga, for example, it is said that all your weaknesses are just right for solving your tasks; you can trust)
• Self-acceptance (understanding, accepting, and loving yourself as you are – without wanting to add to or remove anything; this is especially practiced in Raja Yoga)
• Charity (You love your fellow human beings, animals and nature – this is taught in Jnana Yoga)

Why is self-love so important?

First and foremost, it's about the fact that people with healthy self-love automatically treat themselves much better. When this is the case, it naturally has a positive effect on their inner feelings as well as on others.

When you love yourself, you begin to view the planet and Mother Earth differently and live life much more mindfully. Furthermore, self-loving people don't need as many rules to behave appropriately.

In addition, self-loving people feel better. They are more connected to themselves, their bodies, their thoughts, and their emotions.

2. How can yoga help you develop more self-love?

In addition to meditation on a cushion , asanas from Buddhist teachings can be a key way to strengthen self-love. They are an ideal way to get to know yourself better—not just your body, but also your mind. Yoga practice is perfect for training and directing your mind and thoughts.

The advantage is that – whether you're new to the field or a seasoned pro – yoga always picks up where you're at. Yogis are able to look at themselves, their own thought patterns, and blockages, and change them. The result is more self-love, acceptance, and appreciation of one's own self. Yoga can also help you become more accepting of your own body. Thanks to the dynamic flows, you can lose weight, increase strength, and stretch various parts of the body.

Important : Yoga isn't just about the typical movements. Buddhist teachings are so much more. All the wisdom and scriptures passed down will help you completely reorient your life and achieve more love and awareness. To follow this path, you should read the Yoga Sutras (according to Patanjali; there are four chapters). Two important sutras are: Yoga helps you bring peace to your mind and that the perfect postures are both light and stable.

Yoga Sutra also describes the eight-limbed path of Ashtanga Yoga:

• Yama (behavior in human relationships)
• Niyama (the inner attitude/attitude)
• Asana (the various body movements)
• Pranayama (breathing techniques)
• Pratyahara (the senses should be withdrawn inward)
• Dharana (focusing on the essentials)
• Dhyana (meditation)
• Samadhi (complete arrival/realization)

3. Practical tips for implementing yoga in your everyday life!

In addition to this theoretical information, we would now like to give you a few tips for practical implementation in your everyday life.

• It's important that you set aside a few minutes each day to complete your practice. You should choose the right flows or postures that make a decisive difference in your life. Regularity is the real reason why so much can change.
• Set up a yoga corner where you can practice your daily exercises. It's best to leave your yoga mat there, so you don't have to prepare it—which could be a reason to postpone your practice session.
• Take enough time to immerse yourself in your yoga practice. Sometimes it takes a while to perform the poses correctly or to be able to hold them for a long time. This is your first test of whether you have already practiced self-love. Be loving and mindful of yourself and accept that you may not yet be able to perform certain poses as you might wish. With enough practice, you will learn that your body can adapt completely and your initial physical limits will expand.
• Find a friend to practice with daily. If that's not possible, look for a class where you can meet new people in person and learn all the exercises correctly.
• Use your breathing (deep breaths, in and out) to feel your body and perceive what is present at the moment. This will help you become more aware of your emotional world.

4. What are the most important asanas (yoga exercises) for a more loving relationship with yourself?

There are many different postures that have different effects on your system.

a) Fish pose with yoga block

Here, you lie on your back and support your upper back with a yoga block. Your head is also placed on a yoga block. Relax in this heart-opening pose.

b) Heart chakra opening with a modified child's pose

To do this pose, get into a quadruped position, keeping your legs in this position while lowering your upper body forward toward the floor. Rest your elbows and forehead on a pillow and raise your forearms toward the sky. Breathe deeply.

c) Heart opening while lying down

For this pose, sit on your mat in a kneeling position with your legs pointing back (not cross-legged). Then, place a pillow on the mat and rest your upper body (on your back) and head on it. Rest your legs on the mat with the soles of your feet pointing toward your upper body—not extended. Breathe deeply.

5. How to recognize and manage emotions to love yourself better

To practice self-love, it's important that you're aware of your emotions and feelings. This means that over time, you'll be able to assess more accurately why the sadness, anger, or joy are present at a particular moment. Emotions aren't called that for nothing – the word is derived from e-motion, which means "feelings in motion." So, when you feel sadness, anger, or rage, you can localize it in your body and let it flow through your entire system with your breath. After a few seconds or minutes, the emotion will have passed through your system, and you can return to your daily routine.

When you allow yourself to feel all your feelings, you will find that you can accept yourself much better.

Do you already love yourself? What experiences have you had with yoga practice?