This was really difficult for me because I started doing yoga while in law school. But I was lucky in that a lot of people had walked this path before me, and while in teacher training realized it would be much better to be completely open about being a yogi, so I started writing about it. I talk to everyone about yoga, and I am about to start teaching a yoga class at a courthouse. I used to be so scared of the intersection of yoga and law in my life, and now I see how amazing a connection it can be. It has changed my life recognizing how much they can support one another. That took a huge leap of faith, but one I'm glad I took. It's nice to know others have had similar experiences. Thanks!

So well said! I think about this all the time. I have been known to go a week or more without stepping on a yoga mat. I have been known to get stressed beyond belief. I have been known to scream and yell, even recently. Sometimes it hurts more to act in those ways because I think, "I do yoga, I should be better," or "I write a blog about not doing these things, so I should be better." But the truth is exactly what you say. Each post is a moment's insight, usually a reminder I need. Each non-yoga moment is a moment to practice coming back. Thanks for writing this.

Ironically, this post took me a day to read because I was "too busy." This has been the story of my life for the past six months, and I am finally getting back on track. It is happening slowly, but it's nice to hear that others struggle with this same issue. We may talk a lot about yoga, but we are still modern human beings who get caught up in overwhelm. Thanks for the great tips!

This could not have been posted at a better time. Just yesterday I was walking down the stairs and checking my email on my phone. I missed the last stair and sprained my ankle. It's embarrassing, but it's also a reflection of being too focused on the external, especially for someone who professes to practice yoga in daily life. It was quite a wake-up call. Thanks for the reminder to come back to the internal in our moments of looking to the rest of the world for our answers. Many thanks!

Well said, and thank you. I never know how to respond when people ask what style of yoga I teach. I go into a 5-minute discussion about how I learned, why I started yoga, what I think is important in a practice, etc. Their eyes, obviously, glaze over, and I just get confused. I spend all day in my brain. I want my yoga practice to let me out of that. I may steal your take - label free yoga. Thanks so much!

I was just having a very similar thought today, though in the context of walking in a hail storm (I am currently living in New Zealand where it is still winter). In the past I would have been absolutely, totally annoyed and cold and miserable. Today, I just walked through it, sort of in shock that it is hailing in September. But like you, put me behind a wheel, and I turn into pure California native. Luckily, I do not have the license plate holder to give me away. ;) Thanks for this awesome post.

Thanks for the laugh. I have never heard of those words, though I had heard of the Urban Dictionary. I do talk about being in a yoga daze sometimes after class. As for your second laugh, I used to walk down the hallway at work with my hands in reverse namaste. I worked at the Court of Appeals. I never did an inversion, but I know others who have. I think it is great, but then I think it is vital to take yoga into our daily lives, especially at work. :)

For the first time since my friends back in the states started posting about spring, and quickly 100+ degree weather in Phoenix, I am glad to be in the southern hemisphere. I can roast parsnips for MONTHS! This looks absolutely amazing. Thank you!

Thank you so much for posting this. I have been having serious psoas issues recently, and even though I "know" how to stretch the psoas, it is nice to see this explanation and all the resources. I sit at a desk in front of a computer all day, and I am feeling all the aches and pains associated with a tight psoas and I am "only" 29. ;) I really needed this post. Thanks!

When I was 20, I was living at home for a summer, and my step-dad and I got into a fight. He kicked me out of the house, and the next day I told my sister-in-law I wanted to start learning yoga and meditation. For about 5 years, I practiced on my own, through books, etc., but my practice became serious when I was in law school. Then it really became serious while studying for the bar exam. For 6 weeks, I studied all day and practiced 4-5 nights a week. Yoga has always been my calm in the face of the storm, from the moment I started to living in New Zealand post-earthquake for a few months. Coming to yoga was the best decision I ever made. rmstahl@gmail.com

Wow, thank you. You could not have posted this at a better time for me. I deal with this all the time, as we all do, but I am about to embark on a year-long trip to New Zealand. I am getting a bit nervous about how I will fit in. More importantly, I am so tired of being labeled the problem for wanting to eat healthy and not knowing who the judge of America's Next Top Model is. What is worse? I find myself multi-tasking more than anyone, distracted by facebook and internet, and checking my email on my phone at every red light. Thank you for reminding me that it is not necessary. Thank you!