April Showers, May Flowers: What Yoga Teaches Us About Growth
Spring is just around the corner, and excitement is in the air. Before we can enjoy the beautiful flowers, green grass, sunshine, and warmer days, we must first face the rain, mud, and gray skies. While none of us look forward to the rain and gloom that precedes the beautiful weather heading our way, we often forget that it is necessary for the beauty to emerge. Without the rain, nothing would be able to bloom, and the beauty of spring and summer would not be possible. Often in life, it is the same. We are faced with hardships, struggle, and periods of our life where the rain doesn’t seem to stop. We are stuck under a constant dark cloud, wishing for better days. Yet it’s important to remember that, just as rain precedes the bloom, we too must endure struggle and hardship to grow into our best selves.
Painful moments in life teach us patience, resilience, compassion, and give us a new perspective. We never grow when everything is easy and comfortable, and our practice of yoga is a perfect example of this. There are many moments in our practice where we feel that we want to quit and cannot give anymore. When we hold a difficult pose and are shaking, struggling, and wanting to give up, we learn to breathe through the discomfort, stay patient, and stay calm through the challenge. Each time, we come out of the struggle stronger. Many people come to yoga because of pain or injury, and they leave with strength, balance, and confidence. Sometimes an injury is the necessary “rain” that brings us a new relationship with our body, forces us to love ourselves more, and teaches us to treat ourselves with kindness. Yoga teaches us to work with the “rain” or hardship, not against it. These skills that we learn on the mat transfer to our real lives and give us the experience and confidence we need when we face moments of hardship.
It is not possible to appreciate the goodness in life without a contrast. Light would not exist without darkness, and in order for us to become great, we must undergo hardship and rainy days. These challenges are essential for our growth, teaching us to embrace discomfort with gratitude, knowing it ultimately leads to strength and brighter days. If you’re ready to bring this practice to life, learn more here with our Intro Offer, and if you’re already a member, remember you receive 20% off private lessons to deepen your journey!
