what the mat reminds me
Aye
7/1/20261 min read
When I was five, my mom enrolled me in ballet school. From a very young age, my life revolved around movement, dance, and connecting with my body. However, certain disciplines demand rigid standards I could never meet. That’s where the comparison, frustration, and toxic self-expectation started—trying to force myself into a mold that just wasn't me. Due to family and financial reasons, I had to leave ballet at twelve. But in the years that followed, I discovered a whole new world of dance, music, diverse body types, and different ways to be flexible.
Fast forward to age 27. During a soccer match, I broke my left leg and tore my ligaments, an injury that left me bedridden for six months. I lost strength, my body changed, and I was terrified I’d never use my leg the same way again. The recovery was long, and to be honest, regaining trust in my leg's stability is a mental hurdle I still work through today.
That’s when I discovered asana practice. My initial drive was purely physical: I wanted to regain my flexibility, strength, and stability. But on the mat, I found something much deeper.
Yoga taught me to accept my body’s current state, to respect changing conditions, and to trust the process without forcing it. It taught me to accept my body exactly as it is, to appreciate every part of it, and to care for it—not for aesthetics, but for health. Keeping my body strong, healthy, and free of judgment is a reminder I take with me every single time I step onto the mat.
