Anjali.Yoga Kilchberg

In my yoga practice and teaching, we gather not just to strengthen and stretch our bodies, but to expand our minds and reconnect with our hearts. We speak of samskaras—the patterns, habits, and beliefs that shape how we move on the mat and how we live our lives. The limiting beliefs you encounter in your practice—thoughts like, “I can't hold this pose” or “I'm not flexible enough”—are often the same doubts that echo in other areas of your life.

But here's the truth: those limits aren't real. They are stories we've told ourselves, stories we can rewrite. Yoga teaches us that we are not the limitations we perceive. We are infinite, fluid beings, capable of transformation in every moment, like water—one of nature's most powerful elements.

Abhyasa, the practice of steady, consistent effort, is key to progress on and off the mat. In my classes, I encourage students to approach their practice with dedication and patience, understanding that growth is a continuous process. Just as in any meaningful pursuit, we must show up, put in the work, and stay committed—even when progress feels slow. However, this effort is not about striving for perfection or an idealized outcome; it's about cultivating presence, awareness, and consistency. Every breath, every movement, every moment on the mat is an opportunity to practice.

On the other hand, vairagya, or detachment, offers a powerful counterbalance to our efforts. It invites us to release attachment to specific outcomes, allowing space for surrender and acceptance. In yoga, as in life, the practice is not about forcing or controlling; it's about letting go of expectations and embracing what is. By fostering vairagya, I guide students to find freedom within themselves—freedom from the pressures of performance, from the need for external validation, and from the idea that yoga is about achieving something outside of the present moment.

Yoga is about peeling back the layers of who we've been told we are to rediscover who we truly are. Transformation doesn't come from force, but from allowing, from trusting the process.