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.

We may not always notice, or listen, but our breath tells us a lot about how we are feeling. We can also use our breath to change how we feel— physically, mentally and emotionally!