On an airplane, you are always told to put on your own oxygen mask first. The same way in life, you need to take care of your health first. If you are not happy and healthy, you cannot make anyone else happy and healthy.
Bikram Yoga is the first time you start loving yourself because it is the first time you start seeing yourself.
If it is easy, something's wrong.
Things just happen, it will pass, it's your learning process.
Becoming a victim is your choice.
What's the benefit of hatha yoga? Physical. What do you need to do hatha yoga? Physical body. That's it. Breathing and spirit is a part of any sport. So that's why hatha yoga can be a sport.
Whoever, however close to me you may be. Nobody can change my emotions. Even if I am sad it's my own problem, not somebody else's.
People can think whatever they think, but that's my strength to go forward.
Sports brings community together.
Raja yoga is the mental practice and incorporates meditation, pranayama, and mudra. What are the benefits of having a raja yoga practice? The benefit is spirituality.
Yoga is all about what you do, actually do, for yourself. Every competitor that is there is there for themselves.
If you are being judgemental, that is non-yogic.
I love to say "please" and you have to accept me that way. If you don't, it's your problem.
I listen to my own heart, stand for only that. That's it.
I am a champion. My mom made sure that I did yoga every day. She dragged me because that was something she was doing for herself. She would have a great time with her friends. All the mothers would sit together and the kids all did yoga.
I was raised by my grandmother. She had a very difficult time, raised all her kids, my father and everybody. Listening to those stories and finding her so strong, poised. Anybody who came close to her was made to feel blessed. And at the same time, it didn't matter how strong a person was, in front of her, their head would go down. She carried through her life raising everybody. That is my model.
People should be talking about "yoga asanas" as a competive sport. Because there are many forms of yoga. The most common two forms are hatha yoga and raja yoga. That's mostly what people understand.
Sports brings people together.
Any physical practice can be a competitive sport. What level you can take postures to create the maximum challenge and show your maximum skill, maximum control - it's not a combat game. It's a benefit to you.
Sports keep you feeling cheerful, feeling spirited, it's a kind of a thriving feeling.
