A Decade of Yoga & What Do I Have to Show for It?

Ten years ago to this very day, I walked into my first yoga class.
I had no idea what to expect, just a quiet knowing that this practice worked. Everyone in my family was practicing some form of yoga, and what drew me in most was the sound of breath. Each inhale and exhale had its own rhythm, moving with the body. It took only that one class for something in me to shift. I was in for life.

Back then, I was asana obsessed. If you look at my Instagram now, you might still think I am, and in some ways, I am. The physical practice is addictive. Many poses came easily, but strength was something I had to earn and still work on. I often remind myself: I’m strong, but never strong enough. That is not criticism, it is what keeps me going.

In those early years, I immersed myself in Ashtanga Vinyasa, surrounded by community, chasing the next posture. But things changed. I no longer follow a set method. I have let go of the need for shapes and sequences and instead practice in a way that supports the kind of life I want to live on the mat, in the water, and in the world.

The best śavāsana I have ever had was in that very first class. It felt earned. My whole being had been craving this practice. That rest, that integration, it was perfect. I have been chasing that feeling ever since.

I do not consider myself an advanced practitioner, not even an advanced asana practitioner. But I have lived. I have moved through grief, loss, and uncertainty, and I have seen how the practice holds through it all. That is the part I can speak to with clarity.

For years I lived with rigid discipline: sleeping early, eating clean, zero social life, feeling guilty for slipping even a little. But grief changes you. Losing my sister shattered everything I thought was solid. Life is fragile. It is short. We are not guaranteed the next breath.

Now, I still nourish myself with wholesome meals and practice with consistency, but I also enjoy what I love more freely, without guilt. The practice does not judge. People do. Yoga only asks that we are honest. That is all it really wants from us.

Before yoga, I had no Instagram. I barely took photos while traveling. Everything was just lived. But as yoga became my path, sharing it online helped me grow in ways I did not expect. I am still deeply introverted, but teaching taught me how to connect. Yoga is not one size fits all. It meets each person where they are. Through that, I have formed real, lasting relationships. And I really do love teaching.

At its core, both yoga and swimming are solitary practices. You do them for yourself. Just you, your body, your breath. It takes self motivation, showing up even when no one is watching, simply because you feel better after. You become a better person after. That is reason enough.

Yoga also taught me something far more subtle but powerful: how to move from my core. Every action, whether on the mat, in the water, or in daily life, feels more aligned when it begins from the center. Yoga builds that deep proprioception and body awareness, and it translates to everything. For me, it was swimming. Because of yoga, I could feel the water, move through it, and breathe with rhythm and connection that felt natural. Body, breath, and mind working as one. They really do go hand in hand.

These days, I do not have a formal yoga community. I lost that when I stepped away from Ashtanga. And yet, the practice has never left me. What I do now, on the mat and in the water, is mostly self driven. Quiet. Private. Just me and the work.

Some of the Yoga Sūtras that continue to guide me:

• 1.12 Abhyāsa Vairāgyābhyāṁ Tannirodhaḥ
  The stilling of the mind is through practice and non attachment.

• 1.14 Sa tu dīrgha kāla nairantarya satkāra āsevito dṛḍha bhūmiḥ
  Practice becomes firmly rooted when done over a long time, without interruption, and with devotion.

• 2.44 Svādhyāyāt iṣṭa devatā saṁprayogaḥ
  Through self study, one comes into contact with the divine.

These are not just verses. They are lived truths. They show up in how I breathe, move, rest, teach, and stay the course.

Now, I am more able to pause, observe, and respond with awareness, even when things feel intense. Not always. But often. The highs and lows of life feel a little steadier.

And when I stray, I do not stray too far. There is always a natural push from the world around me, and a quiet pull from deep within. That is what keeps me close to the path. The internal world, the world within, is to be experienced. The external world, the world without, is to be observed.

If you are looking for advice, I do not have any. This is a journey you have to live for yourself. Try things. Question things. Especially the things you are told to accept. Because there really is no single textbook. Yoga is ninety nine percent practice and one percent theory. Do it for yourself. See what is true for you.

A decade of practice down.
Just a lifetime to go.

Upcoming Yoga Retreat in Vietnam:

If you have any questions or interested, feel free to email me at ✨[email protected]✨

Keep practicing 🙏