For those of you who didn‘t recognise the lyrics above they are from the British-Nigerian recording artist Maleek Berry‘s album “Bend It“ (2017). What few people know is that Yoga was never about flexible ladies, but originally practiced by intellectual men— it has always been more about the FLEXBILITY and STRENGTH of our MIND.

Yoga helps us cultivate feelings of contentment, self-trust, and inner peace so we can show up as the BEST VERSION of ourselves. Yoga means UNION, it is a practice that embraces diversity of thought — it teaches us HOW TO REMAIN OPEN — how to LISTEN, OBSERVE and UNLEARN what we thought we already know. Through the practice of so called Tapas, we cultivate deep connections and more loving relationships with our authentic selves and the world around us. 

Tapas refers to the TENSION, FRICTION, or HEAT we feel in our physical body during a strong yoga class, but also to the “resistance” we may experience in our lives when we are met by opposing views, or NEW PERSPECTIVES. We challenge ourselves to go beyond the known. Tapas fosters unity through diversity, while it enables us to PEACEFULLY EVOLVE TOGETHER. Without this “effort” of the practice there will be no growth. 

Life will inevitably throw us all sorts of challenges. When we coach clients it is akin to pouring petrol on a fire — it accelerates the process of CHANGE-MAKING. Coaching and yoga strengthens our mind and our ability to partner with change. Together, these two practices holds the power to move people from a place of FEAR to one of COURAGE, or from ANGER to FORGIVENESS.