Namaste!

Welcome to Yogaliciouse Life. I’m Marta Justyna, a fitness and yoga instructor in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have participated in and taught many different workouts throughout the years. In my personal experience, yoga is hands down the most beneficial, both physically and emotionally. This is why I am so passionate about sharing yoga with you my readers. Whether you have never stepped on a mat before, or you are a seasoned Yogi, you are welcome here! Let me help you make this life so deliciously yours!

I could sit here and tell you about how yoga has given me more flexibility or physical strength, but instead I will share 5 ways in which yoga has helped me travel through life beyond the matt. Now keep in mind, all of these are still very much a work in progress.

1. Self Awareness

As we get older we get to know our selves better, what we like and don’t like, how we want to conduct ourselves.  However, yoga helps guide us to get to that place quicker and on a deeper level. It forces us to ask the really hard questions such as: Who am I? A woman, mother, fitness instructor…what’s underneath all that? What are you here for? What kind of footprint do you wish to leave once you’ve gone from this earth? You see…yoga is not just a workout it’s a philosophy; a philosophy that helps you to realise how and where you fit in this crazy world of ours.

2. Self Acceptance

Now this is probably the hardest out of all five. Like I said…a work in progress.  We all have things we don’t like about ourselves. Things we want to change. With my yoga practise I am slowly beginning to focus on my talents, instead of my downfalls and imperfections. Just imagine how boring the world would be if we were all good at everything. What the heck is perfection anyway?? All we can do is use our talents, and yes we all have one! To help each other and continue to work on things we would like to change. Be patient with ourselves and each other. This brings me to….

3. Patience

It truly is a virtue! Have you ever stood or sat in a very uncomfortable yoga pose you couldn’t wait to get out of? Waited impatiently in line at the grocery store? Skipped to the end of a book? As a society we are programmed to get to the finish line quickly and to always be going. Meditation and yoga is designed to help us enjoy the journey just as much as we enjoy the accomplishment. Take a pause, stop and smell the roses, if you will. The way we feel in specific poses tells us a lot about the way we are going through life. Are you enjoying the asana or are you eager to get to the next one?

4. Openness

In just about every fitness routine it’s about tightening, contracting, speeding up, etc. Yoga is all about lengthening, breathing, stretching and opening. It is the rebel of the fitness world and I love that! It spills into real life in so many aspects; welcoming other people, new experiences, nature, and different ways of doing things. I find this holds true especially in chest openers such, cobra, boat or cow arms. I like to think this because we are opening our heart chakra in these poses where we hold our ability to love.

5. Courage

If it wasn’t for teaching and practicing yoga I would have never had the courage to start this blog. Enough said!!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed reading my first blog. Please leave a like and your comments below. Also watch my Yogalicious Life YouTube instructional yoga videos. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as well.