I used to think I would be (finally!) proud of my yoga practice when I accomplished Standing Head to Knee Pose. But, until that moment, it was about putting in the "hard work" to realize this goal. 

This seemed to be a theme in the earlier years of my practice. 

Once I found one yoga posture, it was on to conquering the next and the next and the next. 

And, I can't say I don't still operate this manner in some ways. 

But, though you might love to see the physical outcomes of having a yoga practice and the tangible picture of yourself in the posture you worked so hard for, that's not always the best way to measure your progress. 

Anyone that's practiced yoga consistently knows that progress in postures at times is measured in millimeters and or tenths of a second. 

So, how to  know you're making progress? Let's take a look at the 4 signs that you actually ARE improving: 

1. You are listening to your body’s needs.

You rest when you are weary. You are hydrated. You eat good food that fuels you. You prioritize good sleep over... pretty much everything else. You never "push" into a posture, or insist your body does something it's not ready to do. 

2. You don’t waste time on situations that don’t serve you.

You surround yourself with people that make you feel great about life. When you leave their presence you feel uplifted and good in your skin, not anxious, worried, or not enough.

You also walk away from drama of any kind. 

3. You are kinder to yourself.

That negative self-talk? It's in a much softer voice or completely gone.

Because how can you look at yourself in the mirror and not see the amazing person that kicked up to Handstand, or found flight in Flying Lizard, or saw a new spot on the wall behind them in their backbend? 

You have turned that inner critic into your inner cheerleader! And, become a person that views what we perceive as "failure" as a stepping stone to greatness. 

4. You are patient as your body opens up to new yoga poses & possibilities.

You never force a yoga posture. You don't view taking a break during class as an epic fail. And, you see modifications to a yoga posture as a tool to use to work with your body instead of against it.

I know! I’m the yoga teacher that talks about goal setting and deepening your practice and here I am telling you to maybe stop taking such a defined look at where you are in your yoga poses. 🙃

Because, though I LOVE working on advancing my practice and helping you advance yours, that’s not the big picture here.

I help you advance your practice to stay interested and curious about what you can accomplish when you work in such a way.

That helps you stay committed to showing up again and again. 🙌🏻

So, what are you waiting for?

Step on your yoga mat and breathe into everything you are and let go of everything you simply are not, today.

Big Hugs,
Tori ♡