Yoga as Therapy: Why My Mat is My Medicine

Every day I get up and tune in. Before emails, before to-do lists, before I open the door to the world – I arrive on my mat. Some days that means an hour of practice, others it’s five minutes of breathing and stretching while the kettle boils. But it’s always there, this daily anchor.

Like many people, the last few years have been a time of challenge. Change, uncertainty, loss, juggling responsibilities – I’ve felt all of it. And through it all, yoga has been my therapy. I honestly don’t know where I would be without it.

When I step onto my mat, I meet myself exactly as I am. Sometimes tired, sometimes strong, sometimes restless. Yoga teaches me that all of those states are welcome. It’s not about achieving the “perfect” pose, but about learning to listen to the body and the whispers of the mind. Next weekend, based at SunFyr Barns just outside Norwich, in Norfolk, our Freedom Yoga 200 hour yoga teacher training begins, for the cohort 2025-2026, and I cannot wait to teach another 15 students in this year long training, it is a life-changing experience.

The Body as Earth

In yoga philosophy, we talk about the annamaya kosha – the physical body, the body of food. This is the most tangible layer of ourselves, the part we can stretch, strengthen, and nourish. Caring for this layer matters because it grounds us, connects us to the earth, nourishes our health and keeps us fit, youthful and full of energy. When I bend, twist, stretch, and breathe, I’m not just moving muscles – I’m massaging organs, circulating energy, and balancing the systems of the body.

The Happiness of Stretching

Science shows what yogis have always known: stretching releases serotonin – the “feel-good” hormone. That’s why even the simplest shoulder roll, spinal twist, or hamstring stretch can shift my mood. It’s like opening a window in a stuffy room: suddenly there’s space, light, and fresh air.

Strength and Stability

Strong glutes and grounded legs don’t just keep our knees safe – they give us a sense of rootedness in life. When I stand tall in Tadasana, feeling my feet pressing firmly into the ground, I remind myself: I am tree, I can bend and sway with the winds of life but still stay rooted.

Breath as Medicine

Then there’s the breath. The “ahhh of delight,” that deep sigh out which tells my nervous system: you are safe, you can rest. With each inhale I remind myself to receive – love, compassion, calm. With each exhale I give it back to myself. This is yoga as self-friendship.

Mantra and Mind

Often, at the end of practice, I repeat quietly: right now everything is good, I am content. It sounds simple, but those words change everything. They soften the inner critic. They remind me that I don’t need to strive, prove, or push – just to be present.

Yoga Every Day, In Every Way

Yoga isn’t always about flowing through poses. For me, sometimes it’s a hike along a coastal path, sometimes a moment of meditation in the car before heading into work, sometimes listening to music as I walk the dog.

This practice – of movement, of breath, of kindness – has carried me through. It’s why I teach. Because yoga is not just exercise. It’s a way of coming home to yourself. A way of remembering that even in times of challenge, we are resilient, adaptable, and whole.

So today, I invite you: roll out your mat, or simply pause and take one deep breath. Say to yourself: All is good. And let yoga do what it has always done – heal, restore, and bring you back to you.

Join one of our wonderful classes at SunFyr Barns with our experienced teachers, and start, or continue, your practise today!