Yoga for Self-Love: Embrace Yourself

Why Self-Love Feels Difficult 

Self-love seems like it’s easy to practise, right? But in reality, it rarely is. Why do people struggle with self-love?

• You mistake self-love for ego and feel that by loving yourself, you are somehow hurting others.
• You measure your worth based on what others say about you. Constantly craving others’ approval can stop you from being able to love yourself.
• You don’t accept yourself for who you are and keep comparing yourself to others.
• You still let past mistakes and regrets haunt you and keep punishing yourself over and over instead of moving on and healing.
• You believe you don’t deserve love and acceptance until you’re perfect.

Self-love can feel especially difficult for women in mid-life, even for those who used to feel confident. This phase often brings on a lot of challenges that shake their sense of self-love. Here are some common causes:

• The constant pressure to be perfect can cause a feeling of “not being good enough”.
• When you compare your life to others, you find yourself losing your happiness and feeling unsatisfied all the time.
• The guilt you feel for spending time on yourself and not living up to everyone’s expectations is mentally taxing.
• Managing many different roles – at home with family, at work, and in your relationships is tiring for the mind and body.
• Managing children, household responsibilities, and work at the same time can leave little to no time for your needs.
• The hormonal changes happening during perimenopause and menopause not only affect women physically but can also affect their mental health and clarity.
• Visible changes in appearance as you age, like skin and hair changes, can affect self-confidence.

How Yoga Cultivates Self-Love from Within

Yoga teaches you to love and embrace yourself and others without judgment. It teaches you to let go of your inner critic and accept and love people for who they really are.

Reestablishing Connection to Your Body Through Yoga

Yogic movements to cultivate self-love focus on building trust and compassion rather than control. 

The movements are done not to achieve perfection of the postures but to accept your limits and embrace your body and mind as it is in the present moment. 

Each breath and stretch encourages you to listen to yourself, honour your body’s needs and limits, and offer it care instead of judging or criticising it.

Yogic Philosophy of Acceptance and Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

Yogic philosophy teaches non-violence (Ahimsa), which goes far beyond refraining from physical harm. It also means avoiding mental and emotional violence, like harsh thoughts, criticism, and judgment – not just toward others, but toward yourself.

Yoga also encourages you to release self-judgment and shame and adopt a compassionate way of self-acceptance.

Self-love doesn’t happen overnight – it is a daily practice of honouring yourself every single day. It’s about treating yourself just like you would treat someone you care for very deeply.

The Mind-Body-Emotion Connection in Yoga

We often speak of emotions through the language of the body – a “lump in the throat” when you hold back tears, a “shiver down the spine” when you listen to your favourite music, and so on.

Yoga recognises this connection between the mind, body, and emotions. Through postures (Asanas) and breathing techniques (Pranayama), Yoga regulates the nervous system, releases stored or suppressed emotions, and creates a space for healing.

Yoga Practices That Build Self-Compassion

Here are some of the best Yoga poses (Asanas) for grounding and cultivating self-love:

Here are the top recommended Yoga poses (Asanas) for connecting and building self-love: 

Child’s Pose (Balasana):

• This pose draws your attention inward and allows you to feel safe in your body.

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana):

• This is a heart-opening pose and opens you to an even flow of energy in your body.

Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana):

• This is an uplifting backbend that opens the heart, boosts your mood, and releases tension in your spine, allowing you to explore self-love.

Reclined Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana):

• This will open your body into a shape that is receptive and trusting, encouraging self-trust and self-compassion.

Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana):

• This pose fosters mindfulness and connection to self while creating awareness, allowing you to find and grow self-love.

Are you excited to explore breathing techniques (Pranayama) to calm your mind and your inner critic? Here are the best ones for you to practise:

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana):

• This breathing technique stimulates both the left and right sides of your brain, bringing in a sense of calmness and balance.

Victorious Breath or Ocean Breath (Ujjayi Pranayama):

• This technique builds warmth and vitality and strengthens the body-mind connection while anchoring you in the present moment.

Natural Breath Awareness:

• This method of simply observing your breath without trying to change it encourages self-acceptance, a foundation for self-love.

Apart from Yoga and Pranayama, guided meditation also promotes self-love. Here are a few deeply supportive practices:

Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta Bhavana):

• This form of meditation encourages you to view yourself with kindness and understanding and foster a sense of self-worth.

Inner Child Meditation:

• Just like the name suggests, this process helps you reconnect with and nurture your inner child, address unresolved childhood issues, and accept yourself just the way you are.

Visualisation Meditation:

• Here, you mentally rehearse scenes where you experience self-love, which helps you connect with your inner feelings and realise you’re worthy of love.

Ayurvedic Practices to Support Self-Love

Self-love isn’t selfish when it’s sacred. Here’s how Ayurveda nurtures self-love.

Herbal Oil Massage (Abhyanga)

In Ayurveda, self-massage or Abhyanga isn’t just a wellness trend. When you massage your body with warm, herbal oil each day, you soothe your nervous system, calm your mind, melt away tensions, and create more positive thoughts. This makes it easier to develop self-respect and self-love.

Nourishing Ayurvedic Rituals

Certain Ayurvedic practices nourish both your body and directly affect your mental and emotional well-being, balance, and health. You may find the following practices particularly helpful: 

Drinking Herbal Teas

• Drinking herbal teas provides nourishment for the nervous system, allows the mind to relax, and promotes clarity. You may consider brewing teas with Ayurvedic herbs such as Indian ginseng (Ashwagandha), Indian pennywort (Brahmi), Indian spikenard (Jatamansi), lavender, or chamomile. 

Eating Sattvic Meals

• Sattvic meals nourish the body and the mind with pure, wholesome, and easy-to-digest foods that support emotional constancy. 

Eating an Early Dinner

• Eating an early dinner allows food to digest before you go to sleep; you are less likely to feel uncomfortable after dinner and less likely to experience interrupted sleep. 

Reflecting on Your Day

• This is a valuable way to process emotions, clear the mind, and remain calm and balanced. Journaling is an excellent technique for reflecting on your day.

Strengthening Your Vitality Through Ayurveda

Research has demonstrated that stress, anxiety, and depression can compromise the immune system and allow the body to become more susceptible to diseases. It has also been established that activities that enhance or support mental health can strengthen the immune system. 

Building Ojas, a form of vital energy (or immunity), promotes your overall health. 

What nourishes Ojas? Good sleep, Sattvic foods, and activities that elevate your spirit can build Ojas, bestow balance and strengthen resilience, both physically and mentally.

Daily Routine for Embodying Self-Love

Ayurveda's daily routine, or Dinacharya, can improve your body and mind by nurturing a daily routine that is consistent and predictable. These practices are associated with natural rhythms, which enhance balance and inner tranquillity.

Morning Practices

• Start your day with intention. This gives your day purpose and keeps you focused.
• A few minutes of deep breathing can help clear your mind.
• You can practice the sun salutation to energise your body and mind.
• Gratitude journaling (writing down things you’re thankful for) at the start of the day can help you begin your day with a positive mindset.

Midday Grounding Practices

• Although the day might be busy, taking mindful breaks allows you to focus and avoid burnout. 
• Taking a moment to take some deep breaths or to take a moment to walk in peace can support you.
• Have a healthy lunch made with nourishing and easy-to-digest ingredients.
• Eat without being distracted - focus on what’s on your plate.

Evening Rituals

• During the evenings, you can practice rituals that help you calm down and relax, like a candle-lit meditation.
• Follow with a self-massage with warm herbal oil to soothe your nerves and nourish your body.
• Enjoy a cup of herbal tea in a relaxing and quiet place for a calming effect on your mind.

Read more - Finding Balance Within: Ayurveda and Yoga for Mental Health is the Key.

How Nirva Helps You Build a Self-Loving Practice

At Nirva, everything revolves around one simple truth – when you feel good in your body and at peace in your mind, everything else falls into place. 

Our team of Ayurveda and Yoga experts will guide you with personalised Yoga plans that respect your unique needs, Ayurveda-backed lifestyle and diet coaching, and practices like meditation and breathwork. 

You can also sign up for continuous support and gentle prompts through the Nirva Health App to help you stay focused and motivated in your journey to self-love.

Wrapping Up

Self-love isn’t selfish; it’s essential. Yoga is a tool that helps in your journey back to yourself through mindful breathing, intentional movement, and reflection. Yoga helps you embrace your body, calm your mind, and reconnect with yourself in a compassionate space you create.

Practice self-love daily – and let it be a reminder that you are enough, just as you are.