There is a very popular hashtag added to many social media posts about yoga. If you search #yogaeverydamnday on Instagram, some 20 million posts are available for your viewing. The vast majority of these are styled, beautiful pictures of folks showing off their headstands, handstands, arm balances, and other poses that not only require an incredible amount of strength and flexibility, but also a very particular body type. Like most things on social media, these photos are not an accurate representation of the reality of daily yoga practice.

Our emotions can have an outsized effect on what happens in our body and our breath. Think about what happens when you are very stressed-- your shoulders may tense up, your jaw may clench, and your breath might get shorter and faster. Now, think about what happens when you are with a loved one, or watching a beautiful sunset, for example-- your body may feel at ease, your breath calm, and there might be a general sense of well being.