You know you love yoga, but would you call yourself a yogi?
There is a quiet shift that happens in many yogi’s lives when they don’t just go to yoga, they start living yoga.
I would even say that some yogis never actually practice the physical part of yoga!
Forget the stereotype of what a “yogi” looks like. I see students of all walks of life regularly unroll their yoga mats. A man in his 50’s dressed in a work suit can be walking into the studio followed by a college girl dressed in head to toe Lululemon.
There is no standard to what a yogi looks like, and that very well might be my favorite part. It’s become a community of like-minded people who may or may not have a spare yoga mat in their car at all times.
Being a yogi is an internal thing. It’s not about how amazing your handstand is or if you wear mala beads on the regular. It has everything to do with your mindset.
So, are you a yogi? Let’s find out.
15 Signs You’re a Yogi
- You find the teacher in all challenges.
When you’re late to work but you hit every red light, you understand that you need to slow down. Or if you have an injury, you see the sign that you need to start paying closer attention to your body and its current capacity. Long story short, you don’t blame others for challenges you face, you see the lessons they are giving you.
- You do a handstand when you pass an open wall or open space.
Maybe because you’re addicted to doing yoga poses, but you practice whenever you can because it’s the mindset of continual improvement. You see the opportunity to directly apply yoga and you seize it because you know the more you practice, the better it is.
- You know when a deep breath is needed.
You understand that some things are out of your control, so there’s no sense in worrying about it. When you don’t agree on controversial topics with family and friends or if someone accidentally spills their drink on you, you have the power to take a deep breath and move on. It’s not worth the stress or energy to get upset about it.
- You make lifestyle choices that support your well-being (and your yoga practice).
It’s not your first rodeo and you know that when your body has bad food and drinks in it, your yoga practice will suffer. So you make choices to eat better and drink more water to ensure your yoga practice will be optimal. Because self-care is that important to you.
- You are ok to let things go or just let them be.
The idea of non-attachment has resonated with you and you realize that by holding on to something will only create more stress and grief. You’re ok to live with less, you know that there is abundance for you waiting down the road.
6. You start using mental breath cues in your daily life.
One day, you may catch yourself saying “Inhale reach to grab my coffee and exhale to lift it up.” Or not…but you do start to have an awareness of your physical body. You’re in tune with when you’ve had enough physical activity, or when you need to push it a bit more. You know your edge and when you are, and aren’t, being present with it.
7. You re-share quotes on social media
Because you want others to feel inspired too to take action for themselves.
8. You, of course, love the physical workout of yoga but the mindset shift is what you crave when you hit your mat
Because mental clarity is what has opened up doors for you to put energy behind the things that matter.
9. When you sit on the ground, you naturally start sitting in half lotus.
Ok, it might not be half-lotus all the time, but you enjoy sitting on the floor to feel grounded or perform some other task that does the same thing.
10. You embrace perfectly imperfect
You’re a rebel and warrior. You curse as much as you chant mantras. You know that not being perfect is perfect and that your yoga practice is your yoga practice. Because it’s just that, a practice.
11. You know your body is stronger than your mind gives it credit for.
You’ve developed a certain level of discipline to breathe through doubt and uncertainty. Your ability to grow your physical practice is proof of itself.
12. You are mindful of putting on lotion before a heated yoga class.
Because that struggle is real. But you also have an awareness of what serves you and what doesn’t, on and off your mat, and you choose wisely.
13. You tell people who never practice yoga, to practice yoga
Because you know how much they’ll benefit from it. You don’t judge, you just offer them a pathway of self-discovery.
14. You welcome learning something new. The student’s mind is amazing to you.
You are able to see the teacher in everything and everyone. The more you think you know about yoga, the more questions you have. The more you learn, the more you grow. A cue from a new teacher could change your Warrior II after you’ve been practicing for 10 years or someone at work gives you feedback to a project you never even considered and you’re ok with it. You look forward to your next unexpected teacher.
15. You allow yourself to modify a pose and an extra-long Savasana is your own personal vacation
You know your strength and you don’t have to prove it to anyone. Some days you do the one-handed handstand and others you take an early Savasana. Because you practice to let your Ego go. You do you, no matter what.
You may practice yoga, but you can practice yoga with the wrong intentions and not be a yogi. At the same time, a yogi might just be someone who is regularly present with themselves and never unroll their mat.
So let go of the idea of what a yogi is, and just start living your yoga.
It’s totally a mindset thing.
