Practicing Self-Compassion

New 8 week sessions begin Monday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 19. Go to www.dalepearsonyoga.com/sessions/courses for more information.

To me, our yoga sessions offer a varied blend of benefits that all lead to positive, practical outcomes like better sleep, increased mobility, and a more relaxed state of mind. But there are lots of layers to the outcomes we might experience, and a fundamental one that emerges over time is our ability to view ourselves with kindness and care.

Seif-compassion is the practice of treating one’s self with kindness, understanding and acceptance, particularly in difficult or challenging situations. Viewing ourselves in a kind, friendly manner is essential to our health, impacting us mentally, emotionally and physically.

Perceiving ourselves with kindness helps us to be more resilient and to take responsibility for ourselves. Being kind to ourselves means we can grow internally and find acceptance for our human vulnerabilities. It encourages honest self-evaluation and supports our commitment to thinking and acting with understanding and integrity. In short, it brings out the best in us.

So why is it so hard to love ourselves in this way? Can we stop listening to the harsh inner critic that talks to us in ways that make us feel so much less than we are? If we listen, do we find we speak more harshly to ourselves than we speak to others?

Knowing that self-compassion reduces stress and negative responses, improves our emotional and mental health, increases our resilience so that day to day struggles are less daunting, and ultimately impacts our enjoyment of life is still not always enough to make us see ourselves or talk to ourselves differently.

According to Kristin Neff, co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, there are three core elements to consider:

Self-kindness vs. Self-Judgment

Common humanity vs. Isolation

Mindfulness vs Over-identification

Self-compassion is a way of relating to ourselves. It doesn’t mean we think we are special or above others, it means that we can observe ourselves in a way that is supportive and live affirming. It means we can learn to feel good about ourselves not because we feel better than others but because we are human beings worthy of respect.

What can we do to connect with self-compassion and self-love? A mindful yoga practice can offer a starting point. The classes I offer can help each participant build a valued, kind, resilient version of themselves. And collectively, we co-create a space that reinforces the well being of us all.

Our new 8 week series of classes begin the week of April 17. You can see class descriptions at www.dalepearsonyoga.com/sessions/courses. You can register on line prior to the start of the Session, or by contacting me directly.