Step Onto My Mat Wellness - SOMM

Sundays are my day for spiritual study, a time to dive deeper into authentic yoga texts and learn from those recognized as authentic yoga teachers.

While many today view yoga as a form of exercise, often pairing it with trends like dog yoga, goat yoga, or even alcohol, taking away from the authenticity of the spiritual practice. At its core, yoga is a profound guide to reconnecting with our true Self, beyond the ego, attachments, and worldly desires. It’s about peeling away the layers that obscure our authentic being, much like chipping away at a block of stone to reveal the sculpture within. As the story goes, a sculptor’s role is not to create the statue but to remove the excess stone to reveal the masterpiece that was already there, much like our true Self, hidden beneath the layers we accumulate over time.

The physical practice of yoga is a powerful tool to help us notice what we’re feeling in the moment. When we engage in poses, we often find ourselves faced with thoughts that tell us we’re not doing it correctly or that we should be pushing for a more advanced version of the pose. Our minds may also react to discomfort. Can we sit in that discomfort with nonjudgment, or do we give in too quickly? Through yoga, we learn to pause and simply take notice of what our mind is telling us, allowing us to create space between our reactions and our true response.

Full Transparency Disclaimer: This post was created with the help of AI for editing and revising.

I used to believe my yoga practice belonged to the sunrise, an energizing start to the day, or to the evening, a ritual for rest. But lately, I’ve found my soul’s sweet spot in the quiet space after work. That golden hour pause where I can breathe, move intuitively, release the day’s weight, journal my thoughts into the ether, and settle into stillness. It’s become a sacred rhythm, a ritual I crave—like a deep exhale for the soul. Pure magic.

Lotus flower – The plant that cleans itself and can survive for hundreds of years!🙏

The lotus flower is not only one of the most spectacular aquatic plants, but also a symbol of purity, resilience and rebirth. Although it grows in dirty and muddy waters, its petals never get dirty - an amazing phenomenon of nature!

- The secret of self-cleaning
The lotus has a unique phenomenon called the lotus effect, which allows it to always remain clean. Its leaves and petals are covered in thousands of hydrophobic microscopic structures that repel water and dirt. When the water drops touch the plant, they roll off and remove dust and mud particles, making the lotus always flawless.

- The plant that is reborn after hundreds of years
Lotus is incredibly resilient. Its seeds can remain viable for hundreds of years and sprout even after being buried for centuries. In China, a lotus seed over 1,300 years old was discovered and successfully replanted!

- A sacred symbol in many cultures
•In Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolizes spiritual enlightenment because it grows out of muddy water but remains pure.
• In Ancient Egypt, it was considered a symbol of life and rebirth, as the lotus closes at night and blooms again in the morning.
• In India, it is the national flower and is associated with the goddess Lakshmi, a symbol of prosperity and beauty.

- Lotus inspired science
Researchers have used the lotus effect to create self-cleaning materials such as stain-resistant paints, water-resistant fabrics, and even antibacterial surfaces for hospitals.

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