Speaking my truth.

By Alexia Nicole

Being authentic and speaking in my true voice has been a daily journey for me.

At times I felt like I had to filter my words before I spoke to make it more appealable to the person I was talking to. Being a black woman, at times I felt like I had to code switch, but since teaching yoga, it inspiring to see people be and speak freely without second guessing if it’s acceptable, they know that it is their truth. Breathing and speaking with intention, is something that is fundamental to one's existence, and taking the time to do that can influence many around you.

Breath is essential, and it usually goes unnoticed as it is subconscious behavior. Unfortunately, when life can be overwhelming, we forget about an anchor that can ground us, our breath. Whenever one is shocked or surprised, we usually inhale a sharp breath. When something is saddening, the breath is there to support our crying. Our breath is the one thing that we can control, it is always there for us.

 Teaching fun ways to access that breath always fills me with joy when I see students find the space to be themselves and become aware of their breath and realize that they can access a calm breath. Seeing people build these tools of self-awareness early gives them a foundation for success. 

There are many benefits to breathing such as stress reduction, increase in energy, improvement in digestion, pain relief, improvement in immunity, and the detoxification of the body to only name a few, but being able to find your sound takes the cake. 

Here are some of my favorite exercises to help me stay connected to myself:

BREATHE

My favorite breath to do is called the lion's breath. In Hindi, it is called Simhasana Pranayama, which is translated to the “drawing of the lion”. To do this you inhale, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and exhale on the sound “ ah”. Doing this in public, might not be socially acceptable, but in living in New York anything goes.  People judge others by living, and if one can't breathe freely and audibly, how can the world be a better place? 

JOURNALING

Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a personal journal is a great way to stay true to your voice because it is a place where you don't have to filter or backtrack on your words; you are able to just be yourself on paper. My favorite thing about journaling is the benefit of it being private and being able to read past entries and see how I have grown or become more comfortable with my truth. Through journaling, I’m able to see how life is a journey with highs and lows, not a destination. 

AFFIRMATIONS

Saying affirmations out loud or internally really helps me tap into the positive and makes me more aware. An example would be “ Today I am bold and unapologetically me.” Affirmations can change daily, you say or write down what you need for yourself, so when you have those moments of not feeling your best you can come back to the words that give you life. This is my personally favorite thing to do when teaching yoga. I usually give a prompt like, “Today I am…” and fill it in with what is needed.