The Overlap of Yoga and Competition

On the surface there’s conflict. I teach competitive people how to win with yoga. But how? How do you smooth the gap between competition and yoga? Don’t the two conflict with one another?

Maybe.

But maybe not.

If you can make this subtle shift in perspective then everything else I have to say will make complete and utter sense (at least I hope it will lol).

Competing with yourself on the road to fulfillment and joy is not the same as competing with someone else on the road to external validation and pettiness. One is uplifting. The other is toxic.

That First Day...

I pulled up to a row of parked cars in an abandoned field. The grass like straw. The sun on its way down. In the distance I could see girls jogging around the edges of a soccer field.

This was my new team. Windy City Pride.

Before I knew anyone's name, or even had time to get acquainted with anything, or anyone, I was in the midst of my first practice scrimmage, going head-to-head with my new teammates.

A ball bounced in front of me and I darted forward only to be knocked out of the way by a small, frail girl, who I'd later learn was named Kristen. She took hold of my jersey and boxed me out as she pushed her back in between me and the ball.

What was this girl on? I thought to myself.

As she stepped to move forward, my jersey still in her hands - she pulled. My shirt ripped down the center.

I should have been outraged. I wasn’t. I should've ran her over. I didn’t. I stood there internally beaming with joy. It was the first time I understood what it meant to have permission to compete.

I love telling this story because so many of us never get permission (or give ourselves permission) to compete. We think it means being a jerk or compromising our position as friends and teammates.

But I want you to listen to this week’s episode on what it means to compete. Listen to the full story around this day and how I learned a valuable lesson about what it means to show up big and how you do it with your soul intact.

And if it resonates, let me know. I always love hearing your comments and hope these stories help you on your path.

As always,

Rooting for you BIG

A-

See ya Sunday!

This week's yoga schedule at YogaView Willmette

Friday level 2/3 11:00am - 12:00pm (in person)

Saturday All-Levels 8:00 - 9:00am (Virtual or in-person)

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