The Gift of Yoga
By Julia Manson Cheng, guest contributor
Yoga has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. Like many recovering from an eating disorder, I found it to be one of the most helpful tools in my own journey. I discovered it while several years into recovery from anorexia, but it wasn’t too late. In fact, it arrived at the perfect time.
When I first experienced yoga, I was pregnant with my first child. I attended a gentle vinyasa style class at a fitness conference, held in a room of a hundred or so people. I felt a little self-conscious in my pregnant body, among a group of complete strangers, but at the same time the energy in the room was exhilarating.
During class the teacher assisted me with adjustments, to make my practice enjoyable and safe for pregnancy. She encouraged me to move my body with each inhale and exhale, being mindful to not force the poses, but allow my body to move intuitively. Throughout I focused on presence, and letting go of expectations and judgments. Eventually I noticed my mind, body and breath become harmonious. I felt my entire being surrender from my own expectations and inhibitions, and yield to a place of knowing my worth.
As someone who struggled to know my value and worth for years, this was a profound experience. It was at that moment I sensed my true self emerge in all its fullness. There was no room for anything but the real me.
There was no desire to compare myself with anyone else in the room, to criticize my pregnant shape, or to place my body into the “perfect” pose. It felt natural, freeing, pure, and instinctive. I realized that the practice had a unique ability to access the deepest parts of my being like nothing else had up until then. I knew it was inherently powerful and exactly what I needed to stay on track with my recovery. From there I began practicing yoga.
After the birth of my baby, yoga continued to be a gift. It helped me cope with the lifestyle changes, stress and fatigue that come with parenthood, by encouraging me to check in with my body, breath, mind and heart, and notice where I needed more nurturing and self-care. It also made me a better mother by helping me embody self-worth. I showed up for my children, and parented in a way that guided them to know their own worth and value.
{Read about guest blogger Lisa Young’s eating disorder journey through pregancy and postpartum.}
Eventually I started teaching yoga out of my passion to help others discover and embody their self-worth too. Yoga has proven to be a good, faithful, and loyal friend. It is always available and willing to keep me from falling back into eating disordered behaviours. Yoga keeps me aware of what’s going on inside, so I can understand myself better, and make healthy choices for my well-being. I believe we all benefit from “checking in,” so we can make choices for self-care, and show up as a full expression of ourselves in the world. There couldn’t be a better way to do this than through yoga.
Julia Manson Cheng is a Personal Development Coach and Yoga Teacher from Langley BC Canada, and the owner of Jewel Wellness. As a born nurturer, Julia is passionate about teaching women how to nurture themselves by elevating and embodying their well-being, for greater health, self-worth, and purpose.