The Missing Piece In Your Yoga Practice: Compassion That Starts With You

The Myth: Compassion Is Something You Give to Others

Most of us may find it easy to be compassionate to others; being kind to other people, having patience with a struggling friend, understanding toward a family member having a hard time, or generosity toward someone in need. And we absolutely need this in the world..

But…. Do you give yourself that same, patience, understanding, and kindness? Probably not. (I know I am guilty of this!) Why is it we can give those things to others while being sometimes absolutely brutal to ourselves?

I see this arise in class…Someone wobbles in a balance and mutters something self-deprecating (in a joking way, but still..). Or maybe someone arrives five minutes late because of traffic and can’t arrive mentally because they’re beating themselves up. If any of these things happened to the person on the mat next to you, you’d offer nothing but warmth and understanding.

How to Bring Self-Compassion Into Your Practice (And Your Life)

Quoting from the yoga sutras of Patanjali - one of the yoga philosophy texts. I.33:

“By cultivating an attitude of friendship toward those who are happy, compassion toward those in distress, joy toward those who are virtuous and equanimity toward those who are no virtuous, lucidity arises in the mind.”

I focussed on the compassion part of this verse. Especially as we have been navigating the time of year with new year pressures, the long dark days, the end of winter and the challenges it may bring.

Off the mat, translating this into being able to navigate life's challenges without the added weight of constant self-judgment.

Try to notice (and it may well be after the event has happened!) the next challenging moment in daily life.

Is it kind? Would you speak that way to a friend? If the answer is no, that's your starting point.

When you make a mistake at work, address it without spiraling into shame. When your body changes (as everybody’s does through all of life’s cycles!), accept & adapt accordingly. When you need to say no to something, you do it without guilt.… sounds liberating, and maybe unrealistic 😆 But it all starts with the noticing, the awareness, the continuous practice.

Show up as you are today, not as you were last week or as you think you should be. Speak to yourself with the same gentleness you'd offer someone you love.

Why This Ancient Practice Is More Relevant Than Ever

We're living in a time of constant comparison and productivity culture. But then you’re exhausted. Disconnected and not listening to your body.. and your mind!

Yoga philosophy underpins the foundations of my practice and teachings - it offers us something our modern world desperately needs: permission to be human. Permission to have bodies that change, energy that fluctuates, and limits to respect rather than resent. When we practice compassion toward ourselves—on the mat and off—we're practicing self-care that allows us to show up fully in our lives, for ourselves and for the people we love.

So the next time you're in a yoga class and your mind is jumping around everywhere (or facing a challenging moment in life), ask yourself: am I practicing compassion, or am I practicing criticism? The answer might just create an opportunity to shift things…

You can join me for weekly in-person classes in Comberbach and Northwich, and also from your home with my Gentle Mat & Chair live online classes. 

1-to-1 and Corporate classes and events also available.