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Here are five science-backed benefits of yoga.

Self-Love: A Lifelong Practice Self-love is more than a buzzword or social media hashtag—it’s an ongoing practice, a lifelong journey of embracing ourselves fully and prioritising the things, people, and spaces that bring us peace and joy. It means recognising that softness and self-compassion are acts of healing, which cultivate a deeper sense of worthiness and belonging.  Embracing the Full Spectrum of Ourselves  It means embracing all parts of ourselves—the radiant and joyful, as well as the uncomfortable, vulnerable, and seemingly undesirable. It requires us to sit with our emotions, acknowledge our flaws without judgment, and offer ourselves the same kindness and compassion we would give a loved one.  Self-love also means choosing environments where we feel welcome and celebrated. It’s about surrounding ourselves with people who uplift us and spaces where we can express ourselves without reservation. When we honour our authenticity, we not only create room for our own growth but also inspire others to do the same.  As a Black woman, self-love is joy and pride in my heritage, my origins. It’s refusing to shrink myself to be accepted. It is an act of resistance and empowerment.  Self-Love as an Art  Because, like any art form, it requires patience, dedication, and practice. It’s deeply personal and evolves over time. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each of us must explore and embody self-love in ways that feel intuitive and true to who we are. Just as artists find their unique style, we, too, must discover what self-love looks like for us.  And like art, it’s a beautiful thing to witness and experience. Seeing someone fully embrace their worth, walk in confidence, and treat themselves with care is a reminder that we can do the same.  The Practice of Self-Love  Self-love is far from easy—it’s a practice that requires time, dedication and grace. If you’re feeling stuck on how to start embodying self-love, here are some ways to cultivate it:  Discover Your Love Language: How do you show love to yourself? Is it through words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch, or gifts? Understanding this helps us nurture ourselves in meaningful ways. Positive Self-Talk & Affirmations: Many of us can be our own harshest critics. Practising self-compassion means recognising when we are being unkind to ourselves and replacing negative thoughts with affirming ones. My favourite affirmation this month has been: I am worthy of love, care, and kindness—especially from myself.  Spend some time writing out and reading out loud your own affirmations.  Heart-Centred Meditation:Find a quiet space, connect to your breath, and focus on your heart centre. Repeat chosen affirmations and bring to mind something you love about yourself. Visualise a warm, radiant green light expanding from your heart, filling you with warmth and gentleness. Treat Yourself with Kindness: Prioritise activities that bring you joy and allow you to express yourself freely. Whether it’s through yoga, creative outlets, deep friendships, or simply taking time to rest and slow down, self-care is a radical act of self-love. Setting Boundaries: Loving yourself also means protecting your energy. Set boundaries that honour your well-being and say no to anything that doesn’t align with your peace and purpose. The Blueprint   The way we love ourselves sets the tone for how we allow others to love us. By practising self-love, we create a blueprint for the relationships we desire; ones built on respect, care, and mutual appreciation. When we honour our worth, we attract people who honour it too.  Reclaiming Wellness for Black Women  Black women are reclaiming wellness on our own terms. More of us are stepping into this space as practitioners, facilitators, and healers, sharing these practices in ways that centre our culture and lived experiences. There is still work to do in making mainstream wellness spaces truly inclusive, but we are no longer waiting for permission. We are creating our own sacred spaces for healing, joy, and community.  Black Joy x Wellness invites women of colour to join us on February 23rd for our Art of Self-Love Afternoon Retreat.  As co-founders, Georgie and I had the pleasure of speaking more about this event last week on BBC Radio London. You can listen to our interview here (starts at timestamp 2:17): BBC Sounds This will be a space to rest, connect with like-minded sisters and cultivate a deeper sense of self-love. Art of Self-Love Afternoon for Women of Colour AuthorChrista Daboiko 2024 Return To Blog Page

The Splits: Hanumanasana – a Journey of Patience, Trust, and Faith  For many yoga practitioners, Hanumanasana (aka the splits) — holds a special allure. It’s a challenging pose that tests both flexibility and patience. But Hanumanasana is much more than just a physical pose; it has symbolic roots and offers valuable life lessons if we take the time to explore its history, meaning, and the mindset it teaches.  The Story Behind Hanumanasana  The name “Hanumanasana” comes from Hanuman, a revered monkey deity in Hinduism. Hanuman was gifted with immense powers including strength, shape shifting and immortality. However, a curse made him oblivious to these powers and he lost sight of his full potential. When his Lord Rama’s wife, Sita was kidnapped, he is sent to search for her. His group encounters the ocean which obstructs their way as they are unable to cross it. However, the curse on Hanuman is lifted and he makes a giant leap from the southern tip of India across the ocean to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita. Hanumanasana references the shape of Hanuman’s extended legs during this giant leap.  This leap represents not just physical prowess but immense faith, trust, and devotion. A realisation of immense potential that had been forgotten. In yoga, practicing Hanumanasana is a way of embodying this mythic leap, both physically and spiritually.  Practicing Patience and Non-Attachment  One of the most important lessons Hanumanasana teaches is patience. Achieving this pose will take months, or even years of consistent, mindful practice. And that’s okay. Yoga reminds us that progress is not linear and that rushing into a pose can lead to injury, frustration, or burnout. Two hamstring injuries have reminded me of this lesson. They taught me the power of non-attachment—letting go of our expectations to focus on the journey, not just the destination.  Applying the Lesson of Hanumanasana to Life  Much like in life, we can easily become overly fixated on achieving a goal, whether it’s in our careers, relationships, or yoga practice. But if we’re only focused on “getting there,” we miss the beauty of the present moment. In Hanumanasana, as in life, it’s crucial to trust the process, allow ourselves to grow at our own pace, and let go of rigid expectations.  Another aspect of Hanumanasana is about faith. Faith in yourself, in your body, and your potential. The leap that Hanuman took required him to rely upon forgotten powers. Regaining trust in his abilities, to surmount a seemingly impossible challenge. When practicing the splits, there might be moments you wonder if your body will ever “get there.” We doubt ourselves and give up before even trying. But if you cultivate trust and patience instead, you’ll eventually realise you are far more capable than you thought.  Building Flexibility   The ‘splits’ and Hanumanasana are not entirely the same. Though the shapes look the same, the intention behind them is entirely different.  Generally, the splits are purely an aesthetic shape, often associated with gymnastics and able-bodied flexible, young women. It is all about an external experience. Whereas Hanumanasana is practiced for a deeper internal awareness. So, it doesn’t actually matter what the outward appearance is. Our bodies are all different and our outward expression of poses will be too. We might need cushions or props for support, finding ways to honour our limits with grace and compassion.  If you want to build flexibility, I’ve created a YouTube challenge to help you prepare in a safe and mindful way. These videos focus on opening the hips, stretching the hamstrings, and gradually preparing your body for the splits without forcing it.  Soon, I’ll be offering more tutorials, classes and tips through the Seola On-Demand Membership.   Want to be the first to know about new content and upcoming on-demand? Sign up to the mailing list to stay in the loop!  Let your practice be guided by trust, not by force. ✨  Click here to watch on YouTube! AuthorChrista Daboiko 2024 Return To Blog Page

SEOLA: What it means and why?This represents the sea or the ocean. I’ve always felt an extremely strong connection to the sea and ocean. In fact, being near any large body of water really, instantly fills me with calm and peace. Can you relate? Perhaps it’s the vastness of the ocean, the rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves or just grounding through the earth as you walk barefoot in the sand —it all speaks to something deeper, something soul-stirring. S-E-O-L-A is an etymological term related to the old English word saiwol, origin of the noun ‘soul’. Saiwol is the ‘spiritual and emotional part of a person, animate existence’. In today’s Century Dictionary, the noun soul is defined as ‘A substantial entity believed to be that in each person which lives, feels, thinks and wills’. Seola and its origin terms are sometimes said to mean originally ‘coming from or belonging to the sea’ because this was considered the stopping place of the soul before birth or after death (Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology). I also find that strangely poetic. For some reason this stuck with me. Yoga is a practice of union, it brings us closer to our true inner essence, the soul. A lifelong journey of tapping into that eternal, blissful, and divine aspect of ourselves.  So, in combining the word Seola with my passion for yoga and holistic wellness, I aim to create a space where individuals can reconnect with their soul’s true essence. It’s a gentle reminder to prioritise activities that nourish our soul and bring us closer to our authentic selves.  Through a consistent and continuous yoga practice we are able to see a clearer reflection of the true self, referred to as Puruṣa in the Yoga sutras, which is otherwise continually clouded and troubled by the external world. Within us all there exists a spiritual force that draws us towards particular thoughts, intentions and actions which are in harmony with our divine purpose. Seola reminds me to pursue what brings me harmony, joy and peace. Be it through connecting with the sea, the ocean and nature or through my yoga practice, it feels like a homecoming. I hope this can be a little reminder for you to do more of what feeds your soul. BTW – not to be confused with the South Korean singer Seola! (Though our birth dates are exactly 2 weeks apart…) Seola reminds me to pursue what brings me harmony, joy and peace. Be it through connecting with the sea, the ocean and nature or through my yoga practice, it feels like a homecoming. I hope this can be a little reminder for you to do more of what feeds your soul.  PS: Not to be confused with the South Korean singer Seola! (Though our birth dates are exactly 2 weeks apart…) Become A Member Extra Reads Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda AKRADINBOSOM: Akan Abosom (Deities) of the Okra/Okraa (Soul) and the 7-Day week By Odwirafo Kwesi Ra Nehem Ptah Akhan AuthorChrista Daboiko 2024 Return To Blog Page