Why We Practice…

Here are many beautiful messages from our Mighty Team, sharing why we practice.

My practice has pulled me through some of the toughest times in my life. It has reminded me to breathe, to show up, to reclaim me, to love, to hope, to not give up.  I practice now because I know it is tied to my resilience, to my strength, to my creativity and to my freedom.  It reminds me I am capable of so much more in this world, and that I’m not the only one, too. -Zainab

I practice so I can know my strength when I feel weary.
I practice so I can find the ground when I feel confused or lost.
I practice so I can shed what I don’t need. 
I practice so I can find the present moment when I feel worry about the future or sadness about the past.  -Rachel C.

I practice at/with mighty for community and to feel at home in my body. A regular yoga practice allows me to work out all the little kinks in my muscles and to build community with others on the mat and with other teachers and staff. -Rachel I-F.

My practice, whether it's been regular or sporadic, has given me the strength to move through one of the hardest years of my life. On my mat, I have been able to find peace and gratitude for all of the changes and hurdles and it has been the greatest blessing. -Kirsten

I practice because I need the time to stretch and maintain some flexibility/mobility; I have been lifting weights again so it’s a good complement. Right now, my practice is giving me alone time with myself. I have many moments of community & engaging but rarely any moments of solitude. -Denisha

When I make time to practice, I walk through the world with more peace, ease, confidence, and an embodied sense of wholeness. Getting on the mat has been a vital piece of my healing & evolution! -Lucie

Yoga is the one thing I do that’s just for me. Motherhood has changed me forever in wonderful ways, but sometimes I miss my youthful self who used to practice far more than I can now. Although my whole family benefits from me practicing because I’m more calm and grounded, I do it because I feel like the me that I miss. -Danny

I practice to relieve stress, reduce decision fatigue, and prevent injuries. Yoga is also an awesome way to connect and share in community! -Riley

I practice to maintain balance physically, mentally and emotionally. Life has many shifts and changes, my yoga practice helps to keep me steady, regardless of what life brings. -Holle

I practice for the intentional connection to myself and the mighty yoga community. Intentional rest practices like mindful and restorative yoga classes are really important to me, now more than ever! -Dorota

I practice to be able to show up calmly for my family and stay present in the face of watching them suffer and die from cancer and other chronic illnesses. -Kira

Practicing yoga keeps me connected to the practice of life in ways that help me to stay grounded no matter what is arising. It keeps me connected to the spirit that we all are. -Stephanie

I practice yoga to maintain my mobility, strength and stability, as well as hone my focus, presence and patience. I love yoga because there is no final destination or reaching “perfection”; it is a lifelong practice. -Chloe

I practice yoga to stay healthy enough to enjoy the people and adventures that keep my life full and busy. Yoga keeps me present, strong, and swimming with the flow instead of struggling against it. -Kim

Mighty really is my happy place. I am absolutely feeling the strain between family and grief and working with people that are losing SNAP benefits. Literally day to day survival...I practice because life is long and crazy and it's ever-changing and everything is temporary and without my practice it's easy to lose sight of that. Practice grounds me so that I can show up for the long haul for myself for my family from my community.  It takes practice to keep myself in the present and reduce my anxiety of the future. I think, like a lot of people, I came to yoga for the physical practice but it's actually the mental and spiritual that has held throughout all the ebbs and flows. -Nancy

Practicing allows me to connect to my breath, to my presence on earth, and ways to be a better human. Yoga gives me space to show up for myself, so I can show up for others. I literally don't know where I would be today without this sacred practice and community. -Amy

I practice yoga to reconnect with myself beyond the roles and responsibilities of motherhood. Right now, it’s giving me a rare moment of stillness, to breathe, reset, and remember that I’m allowed to take up space too. -Bobbie

Right now, my practice is bringing me warmth. As the days get darker & colder, it is so special & vital to have the space to warm up the bones, bringing softness to my body and the nervous system. My practice is letting me slow down - to soak up a slower season (that we often fill with just as much activity as summer). Let’s all slow down together. -Ryley

I started practicing in an immensely busy, chaotic time in my life seeking the mental stillness, somatic movement, and mind body connection I needed to get through and do hard things. I show up in my practice now with gratitude - for my health, my mind, and my body! -Madi

Though my yoga practice is not always consistent, it gives me time to focus specifically on how my body feels as it moves. I don't get this through my other forms of exercise. -Jamie

Yoga reminds me who and whose I am. It activates my personal power and responsibility to the collective. A sanctuary, it holds me steady in uncertainty and offers clarity in the space between. Yoga also helps my knees feel better and rest come a little sweeter! -Erica

My practice helps me find the stillness that my mind, body and heart need to feel grounded and energized all at the same time.  Yoga soothes my muscles and joints while bringing a feeling of strength, balance and confidence.  This follows me off the mat and into my daily life. -Liz K.

Among the numerous reasons why I practice, what yoga does for my mental health is key. As a survivor of abuse and addiction, yoga keeps me grounded. It allows me the space to get out of my head and find peace, while simultaneously allowing me to remain present with myself and others. A dedicated practice has helped me through my healing and recovery. It has granted me permission to love myself as I am, where I am. -Nathalia

Practicing yoga opens me up to living life more fully. By strengthening the connection between my body, mind, and heart, I am better able to show up for myself and my communities and handle all the hard stuff with more grace and ease. -Matt

I practice to come back to myself and remind myself that we are so much more than our to do lists! It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and yoga grounds me. -Kristina

I practice so find my place of center and be reminded of my strength, capacity, and power. My practice helps me stay connected to my body, mind and spirit. -Emily

My yoga practice is the only practice that combines so many vital aspects of my life into one entity. Whether it’s philosophy (my worldview and ethical practices), my emotional and psychological well-being, or my physical well-being, yoga has sustained me through difficult times in my mind and has supported me through long seasons of chronic pain. It gives me a container by which I can study myself and navigate this life that I live. When I practice (whether breathwork, meditation, or asana), I am able to tap into a deeper, grounded part of myself that is calm, content, and ready to engage healthfully with the joys and challenges of this human existence. -Jessica

I practice yoga to expand and evolve with grace of life (breath), flexibility, strength, balance, presence and as a member of a forward moving community who sees gratitude and joy as a  gift! -Taura

Yoga is where I go to remember. When I step onto my mat I remember what I can control and what I can not, I remember the power of my breath, my body, my attention, I remember that I am connected to a loving community and something bigger than myself.
This remembering steadies my thoughts, soothes my heart, nourishes my body and gives me an invaluable feeling of grace. -Ilana

Today I practice to keep me sane. To remove the ruminating thoughts attacking my brain. I practice to keep my authenticity and empathetic perspective. -Heather S.

My practice is the sweetest way to build and grow community and get in touch with my inner world. It supports the micro and the macro. It helps me channel awe for the vehicle that is my body while tending to it with love. Practice supprts my mental health and bolsters my capacity for the dance that is nervous system regulation. Practice keeps me connected to incredible people who prioritize taking care of themselves and each other. -Lara.

I practice to deepen a self intimacy that helps me be a more present and kinder self, mama, partner and friend. My practice is giving me grounding and connection. -Liza

Practicing yoga is affirming to my being. It’s a support that helps me open my eyes, process and grow. -Andy

I practice to support who I am as well as the woman I’m becoming. I’m learning to treat myself tenderly and with loving care. My practice shows me how to tune more deeply into the truth and wonder of existence, which allows me to show up powerfully for my family and our beautiful Mighty Community. -Heather H.