Living the Eight Limbs of Yoga: Overcoming Obstacles with Grace and Choice

Last weekend, I was faced with obstacles that blocked my path to sharing the beautiful practices of yoga. These challenges left me feeling angry and frustrated, and my mind began to spiral into those all-too-familiar questions: Am I good enough? Why me? It’s so easy to let these thoughts take over and cloud our judgement, but I chose a different path.

Instead of allowing those feelings to consume me, I took a moment to reflect. I realised that the decisions made weren’t about me or my teaching abilities—they were simply a reflection of someone else’s need to act quickly in the moment. It wasn’t personal. With that understanding, I was able to release the frustration and return to what truly matters: living my practice.

The following the day, I chose spontaneity and joy. My husband and I couldn’t gather the anyone to join us, so instead, we tapped into our inner child. We played, we laughed, and we embraced the moment fully. Choosing to respond with openness and lightness felt liberating—a true reminder of the freedom our practice offers us.

Living the eight limbs of yoga doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges or experience difficult emotions. Those are part of being human. It’s about how we respond to these moments, both inwardly and outwardly. Our practice teaches us to navigate life’s ups and downs with love and compassion—not just for others but for ourselves too—while remaining true to our voice and our truth.

Yoga reminds us that obstacles and frustrations are opportunities for growth. Through practice, we learn to meet them with grace, to soften into acceptance, and to act from a place of kindness and understanding. Even when life feels challenging, joy is always a choice we can make. Today, I chose joy, and it made all the difference.