Something is missing from mainstream health and wellness messages. Often, we see a lot of encouragement and inspiration to strive for more, but this constant push to do better may leave us feeling like we’re not enough. Radical self-acceptance is the missing piece for optimal health and wellness. Thus, we’ve curated a yoga-for-acceptance practice that will encourage you to love yourself more in this exact moment, rather than getting stuck in the ideals of society.
This yoga for acceptance practice includes affirmations, a self-acceptance meditation, self-loving mudras, and yoga asana. In addition, there are a few extra lifestyle practices at the end that you can add into your routine to further promote radical self-acceptance and self-love.
Yoga for Acceptance Practice
Affirmations
At the beginning of your yoga practice, recite these affirmations to establish a connection to your inner guide. If your mind wanders during your yoga practice, you may return to these affirmations to bring you back to the present moment. Once you have your focus, feel the words filling up your entire being, filling you with love, acceptance, and joy.
- I am enough in every single moment.
- I let go of any desires and am entirely unattached to the outcome of my practice today.
Throughout your practice, you may say these affirmations to yourself, but without judgment or criticism.
- I lovingly accept my flaws without judgment.
- I accept all that I am, the unlimited potential of my being.
Vajrapadama / Thunderbolt Mudra
Mudras offer intentional gestures to the mind and spirit. This gesture provides connection and clarity to your highest self. A powerful mudra to increase self-love and build radical self-acceptance is the thunderbolt mudra. This mudra builds confidence, which will help you embrace all that you are in this present moment.
Perform this mudra at the start of your meditation practice in your yoga for acceptance sequence. Here’s how:
- Sit comfortably in easy-pose. Lengthen your spine and relax your entire body.
- Interlace your fingers to the first knuckle on each hand.
- With your thumbs facing up, lay your hands over your heart.
- Continue to breathe deeply and recite, “I lovingly accept all that I am in this present moment.”
Meditation for Acceptance
Once you try the thunderbolt mudra, you may want to hold that in place during your meditation. During your meditation, focus on your heart center. Spend about 5-10 minutes sending loving awareness to your heart while holding thunderbolt mudra on top. Continue to breathe full, yogic breaths.
If you catch your mind wandering, come back to one of the affirmations. Know that a wandering mind is a normal part of the meditation practice, and lean in with love for yourself when this common event happens. Notice if you are having any negative thoughts arise. Do you have patterns that pop up daily of self-doubt? Acknowledge them, and then state, “It is OK that I’m experiencing you. I love you, and you are enough.”
For a guide, discover this 5-minute grounding meditation practice to get started.
Yoga for Acceptance Asana Sequence
This yoga for acceptance sequence will challenge your balance. However, if you notice yourself losing your balance, come back to your breath and try again. Know that no matter how your practice turns out today, you are enough. Treat yourself like you would your best friend! This yoga for acceptance asana sequence may take about 40-minutes, but you may take it at the speed is best for you.
For a more profound, connective experience, you may want to take 1 tsp of chyawanprash before your yoga practice.
Warm-Up
Begin after your meditation.
- Easy pose + side body stretch R/L + chest opener with hands interlaced behind back
- Cat/cow pose
- Forward fold
- Downward dog
- Spider crunches from downward facing dog 5x each leg
- Hero pose + spinal twist
Standing
Be sure to practice each pose on the right and left sides.
- Chair pose
- Eagle pose
- Chair twist
- Mountain pose
- Standing hand-to-toe pose
- Standing head-to-knee pose
- Dancers pose
Main
Be sure to practice each pose on the right and left sides.
- Triangle pose + optional extended arm overhead
- Half-moon pose
- Warrior 3
- High lunge
- Revolved high lunge
- Revolved half moon
Cool Down
- Crow pose
- Wide leg forward fold + chest expansion with hands interlaced behind back
- Side lunge R/L
- Seated one leg forehead-to-knee R/L
- Seated forward fold
- Shoulder stand
- Plow pose
- Fish pose
- Supine twist R/L
- Savasana
Additional Lifestyle Practices to Boost Self-Acceptance
Besides your yoga for acceptance practice, you may wish to add in a few more lifestyle practices to encourage radical self-acceptance. The practices below will help you accomplish your personal goals to become a self-confident, loving being.
Crystal Therapy
Gemstones and crystals carry potent healing energies. By taking them in your bag or placing them somewhere in your home, you may receive some of the healing benefits. Healing crystals for acceptance include pink opal, pink tourmaline, and calcite are excellent tools for emotional healing and promoting self-acceptance. These stones help repair energetic damages and therefore encourage the release of pent-up blockages.
Abhyanga
Although not a direct yoga practice, abhyanga is a renowned ayurvedic therapy because of the incredible benefits of increasing self-love. Abhyanga is the practice of a self-oiled massage and can strengthen your connection with self when practiced daily. By consciously serving and loving your body daily, your self-acceptance and overall gratitude will boom.
Chyawanprash
Accepting yourself fully will always come back to a place of internal peace and love. A powerful way to increase that inner peace and love is through nourishing herbal supplements such as chyawanprash. Chyawanprash is a potent medicinal, nutritive jam that has been used for thousands of years to build ojas and thus, increasing the body’s capacity to withstand life. A strong and nourishing body, mind, and spirit provide a crucial environment for each of us to foster radical self-love. Learn more benefits of chyawanprash.
When choosing a chyawanprash that is right for you, consider sourcing from a sustainable and ethical brand. PIOR Living delivers the highest quality ingredients. All ingredients are harvested with the seasons from local farms in India, honoring ancient traditions and techniques. Discover PIOR Living Chyawanprash to try for yourself.
Clare Michalik, Ayurvedic Practitioner, @clareminded
