Grow Through It
“Don’t go through life, grow through it.” – Eric Butterworth
My practice of yoga has become a lifestyle, no not just through my career, but a way I move within the world every day. It lends to how I build relationships, make decisions on life paths, and how I build community. I am so grateful to get to share it with others!
While I feel I always had a curious mind and a need for growth, yoga has brought that even more to the surface for me. With yoga there’s so much to explore! Postures and the body mechanics, meditation, spirituality, breathwork, tradition and culture, community… I tell my students “I could live 10 lives and still not have explored all of the aspects of yoga within those lives.”
When I read the quote above it really spoke to me. So many people “go through life”. I totally understand the daily grind, the routines, the up early and fall into bed late at night. I’ve done it and still do it! But when do you have time to “grow” if you just “go”? This is where our practice comes in. It offers us the opportunity for growth on so many levels! It’s as simple as learning just a few inhales and exhales before any action can make all the difference. It’s learning that some days we move better than others. It’s understanding that we all arrive differently and learning to navigate that to care of yourself and others.
Whether you sign up for a class, workshop, or a yoga teacher training, you are setting aside time for yourself to learn and grow. One of the most common sentiments expressed at the end of our 200HR YTT is ‘I didn’t expect to learn so much about myself and I grew in ways I didn’t imagine.’ But guess what? You can do these practices anywhere! Once we learn and grow with these understandings we can take and use them everywhere!
Yes, I train teachers. Yes, I teach classes for others. And yes, I still have my own practice. I still have my own practice because it is important for me to continue to learn and grow. Some days it’s new insights are discovered as a walking meditation, other days it’s within a class at a studio with my friends. Truthfully, some days it’s a restorative practice in my bed with a pillow and my pups! Sound familiar?
Let’s look ahead at how we can work on growing within our practice this week:
Remember to always practice within your own limits and take care of physical and emotional well-being. Use yoga props as suits your practice.
Journaling Suggestion: Before you start a physical practice this week take time to record a few words on how you feel in general. Take notice of your clarity, your breath, any tension in the body, your emotional state. Complete the practice and on a different piece of paper – not referring to the initial journaling – ask yourself the same questions. Once complete, compare. This journaling exercise is really where the growth comes in this week.
Depending on how you are feeling choose a passive or active practice or blend them together. Note in your passive practice try and reduce muscle engagement and tension where you can.
Asana Practice 1 – Passive: Take 10-20 breaths in each posture. Child’s Pose > Seated Easy Pose > Low Pigeon (R/L) > Seated Easy Pose > Seated Wide Legged Forward Fold > Supine Wind Relieving, knees together, then wide > Supine Bound Angle > Supine Twist (R/L) > Savasana
Asana Practice 1 – Active: Extended Child’s Pose > Downward Facing Dog > (Three-Legged Dog > High Pigeon) R/L > (Three Legged Dog > Warrior I > Standing Wide-Legged Forward Fold) R/L > Mountain > Standing Forward Fold > Extended Child’s Pose > Supine Bound Angle > Supine Twist (R/L) > Supine Wind Relieving > Savasana
Wishing to learn more about the practice of yoga? Reserve Your Spot for the next 200HR yoga Teacher Training beginning September 6, 2025, and become a Certified Yoga Teacher before the end of 2025. We are ¼ full already. Looking for more details? Email stephaniepower.ayc@gmail.com.
If you want to share your experience with us, follow us on Instagram: @albertayogacollege
With gratitude,
-Stephanie