Notice. Feel. Just Be.
There’s a little secret in yoga that most people never really talk about. It’s not the perfect pose, the Instagram-worthy arm balance, or how bendy you can get. Nope. The real magic happens when you slow down enough to Notice. Feel. And just Be.
Notice.
Step onto your mat and take a breath. Really take it. What’s happening in your body? Is your shoulder creeping up near your ear again? Are your hips screaming at you from last week’s hike? Maybe your mind is already off in the grocery store, thinking about that thing you forgot to do. Notice it all. The tightness, the tension, the wandering thoughts. This is not a judgment zone—it’s an observation station. Think of it like checking the weather before you head outside. “Ah, it’s a bit stormy in my neck today. Noted.”
Feel.
Now comes the fun part. Move into your pose, and actually feel it. Feel your feet rooting, your spine stretching, your ribs opening, your breath dancing through your chest. Feel that awkward wobble in Warrior II? That’s your body talking to you—listen. Feel the strength, the stretch, the release, the weird little shiver that comes when your body says, “Oh, we’re awake now.” And yes, sometimes it might tickle, sometimes it might scream. Either way, feel it.
Just Be.
Finally… just be. Let go of “doing” and all the mental chatter about whether you’re doing it right, looking right, or thinking right. Just exist in this moment, in this pose, in this body. Be the wobble, be the stretch, be the sigh that escapes your lips. Be the calm, be the chaos, be the perfectly imperfect version of you on your mat. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll notice life feels a little lighter when you step off the mat too.
If you’ve ever taken a class with me, you’ve probably heard me say this: notice, feel, and then just be. It’s more than a cue—it’s a little invitation to drop into your body, slow your mind, and remember what it feels like to truly exist in your own skin.
Yoga isn’t about the destination or the shape you can twist into. It’s about noticing, feeling, and just being—messy, funny, human, alive. So next time you’re on your mat, give yourself permission to do all three. You might surprise yourself with how good it feels.
