“Have You Tried Yoga?!”

It is unfortunate, but even I can’t deny that yoga has become a bit of a joke in the chronic health community. We’ve all been there: you’re talking to someone in a coffee shop or a bar, sometimes waiting room or just while you’re waiting, and at the slightest mention of health issues – pain, sleep, emotional imbalance, digestive issues,… – someone you don’t even know will turn around and ask, “have you tried yoga?” With all the excitement that they are about to change your life!

You’re already rolling your eyes because some days you can’t take a shower without sitting down for a break, so how do you get through an hour long class or stick to a daily routine? Yoga did not prevent me from developing my chronic health conditions, so why would I expect it to suddenly cure my body of them? But by learning to listen to your body and make the necessary modifications for what you are feeling, you are more successful in your self-care goals and managing your overall wellness.

You may be surprised to hear this, but your self-care doesn’t even have to include “yoga” as we picture it. My husband goes for walks for physical exercise, but it is also his time for quiet and clarity. I look at this as “his yoga”. I named my site Carrie On Yoga because I feel that anything you do to live a better life or to take care of yourself contributes to a yogic lifestyle. And this is what self-care really is: your lifestyle.