Name: Asha
Age: 22
Noire Care practice (your self care practice(s)): Yoga
How long have you been practicing? A year and a half
Who or what introduced you to it? I was seeking something that I could do that would honor my being. I was in the midst of one of my last semesters at college and I wanted a way to relieve stress. I started practicing yoga after seeing a post by @mynameisjessamyn on instagram.
What is the best way for a beginner to get started? Are there low/no cost
ways to getting started? The best way to start practicing yoga is to get on the mat, (you can buy affordable mats at many places). When I say get on the mat, I mean to just start practicing. I think one of the most challenging parts of yoga for me was actually getting to mat, I made up excuses as to why I couldn’t practice but everyone can practice yoga so just start. I started by following videos on YouTube and doing yoga challenges on instagram. For me yoga is more about the way you approach it mentally than physically. The asana (poses) practice is a result of you taking the time to honor your self with the time you take for yourself.
How often do you practice? Ideally I aim to practice yoga everyday, even if I can only get a 20 minute session in. Typically I practice 3-5 days a week for about an hour. I aim to meditate every morning.
Where do you practice? I primarily practice at home or outside in a park or botanical garden. I try to attend at least one yoga class at a studio a week.
Is this something you can enjoy with others or do you prefer the solitude? I have friends who practice yoga and I love practicing with them! I also practice alone, sometimes in silence and sometimes with my favorite jams. The practice is really what you make it.
How does this practice make you better? My yoga practice makes me better by allowing me to be present in the moment, by showing me that it is okay to take time for myself. When I started practicing I was stressed, and I sought out this practice in hopes to release that tension is a positive and productive manner. I’ve learned so much about myself during the last year and a half on a mat. Yoga is a space where you do not judge yourself, rather you allow yourself to just be.
Did you grow up witnessing your mother, aunties or any women in your life
consistently taking time to do something just for them? Yes, my mother definitely practiced self care. She has a room where she would go to take time for herself, and as I child I always wanted to go in this room. I recently went into the room, and was amazed at how similar our spaces are that we have created for ourselves are.
Where can our sisters follow and learn more about you? I document my yoga journey on instagram @ParadiseAsha
Anything else you’d like to add? If you want to start practicing yoga, just start practicing yoga. Many people don’t start because they aren’t flexible or they can’t do a headstand. Everyone has to start somewhere. Allow yourself to enjoy the journey or your practice. Don’t compare yourself to others. As in all things, you are exactly where you need to be in your practice. I send you much love and light.
