Self-awareness is the ability to perceive and understand yourself at a deep level and is key to personal growth and overall well-being. It’s less known or talked about that transformative mind/body practices such as yoga, pilates, and meditation have a powerful effect in cultivating more self-awareness by allowing people to tune into their bodies and gain a deeper awareness and understanding of their physical and mental states.
In this episode, I’m joined by Roberta Hughes who is a yoga and meditation teacher who provides personalised programs to fit her client’s needs and goals, which leads to individuals making the most out of their mind/body connection practice. We discuss how this approach, leads to people feeling more empowered, experiencing profound personal growth, and less unnecessary pain or injury.
Mind/body practices help to reduce stress, and bring about a deep sense of peace in one’s life. These practices are a form of self-care and by cultivating these habits, people can improve their overall well-being and longevity, and be able to handle life’s challenges with resilience, grace, peace, and a deep sense of fulfilment.
Scheduling time out to practice these habits is a challenge that most people face. Roberta believes the value of planning and organisation in managing one’s time is key to practising them on an ongoing consistent basis. These practices, aren’t just once-in-a-blue-moon habits but are lifestyle habits that become a way of life and improve the quality of your life.
There are many different ways to plan effectively. Roberta uses planners as effective tools for organising thoughts and tasks. Roberta adds that it’s important to be aware and conscious of becoming overly rigid and hyper-focused on planning, as it can lead to stress and feelings of failure which is the opposite of what it’s intended for. Finding your balance between planning and allowing life to unfold naturally, leaving room for spontaneity and personal enjoyment is the magic sauce and is in of itself part of the journey of life.
Roberta also speaks to the importance of celebrating accomplishments, no matter how big or small in your mind/body practices as well as life as a whole and suggests keeping a celebration journal, where you can reflect on and acknowledge your achievements. By taking the time to celebrate progress, you can cultivate a positive mindset and boost your motivation and self-esteem, paving the way for even greater accomplishments and personal growth. It’s also a great self-awareness tool to add to your arsenal!
Overall, by incorporating mind/body, planning, and journaling practices that cultivate self-awareness and improve the quality of your life you can propel your personal growth and discover your true authentic self.
