"Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself"

November 2025

There is a lovely quote from Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha that I came across recently.  

"Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which

you can retreat at any time and be yourself"

Just reading that brought me a sense of calm and, quite frankly, a sense of relief and peace.  Its hectic out there!  So many things are happening around the world, and probably right where you call home as well.

It made me reflect on the power of yoga.  How yoga is more than just the poses.  Yoga is breath.  Yoga is meditation.  

When we combine breath and meditation with conscious movement...well now we're 'cooking with gas'.

So I started doing some reading about the positive mental benefits of yoga, and lets just say this: there is a lot of information out there.  

I found this article and wanted to share it with you.

Harvard Medical School:  Harvard Health Online published an article in 2024 about Yoga and its positive impacts on the aging brain and on mental health in general  https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-for-better-mental-health.  “With its emphasis on breathing practices and meditation — both of which help calm and center the mind — it’s hardly surprising that yoga also brings mental benefits, such as reduced anxiety and depression.”

In the article it states that “all exercise can boost your mood by lowering levels of stress hormones, increasing the production of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins, and bringing more oxygenated blood to your brain. But yoga may have additional benefits. It can affect mood by elevating levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with better mood and decreased anxiety.”

The authors go on to say that “meditation also reduces activity in the limbic system — the part of the brain dedicated to emotions. As your emotional reactivity diminishes, you have a more tempered response when faced with stressful situations.”

If you are a regular practitioner of Yoga you probably already know this, or have experienced the benefits first hand.  That means that you also know that access to Yoga and meditation is needed. 

Access means accessible studios with a culture of inclusion that is firmly rooted in all teachers and staff.

All people, no matter their experience or ability, should be able to practice yoga in an inclusive, accessible environment.