Yoga Journal USA — February 2018

YOGAJOURNAL.COM / 66 / FEBRUARY 2018

PHOTOS

: P

AU

L M

ILL

ER

; M

ODE

L: B

ARO

N B

APTISTE

; GROO

MI

NG

: BETH

WALK

ER

; WA

RDROBE

: LU

LU

LEM

ON

LIFE IS RIDDLED WITH social rules.

Take this biggie, for example: “Don’t talk

politics, religion, or money in polite com-

pany.” You can always break the rule,

but know that if you go there, it may turn

confrontational and possibly damage

your relationships. Of course, social rules

have their place and importance, but living

entirely within their limits can restrict the

outward expression of your individuality.

Worse, they can chip away at the time and

energy you spend looking inward, which

can cause a serious disconnect from your

authentic Self. Eventually that can start

to erode your sense of self-worth and the

self-confidence it takes to pursue what

you believe to be important and right.

The practice offered here was designed

by Baron Baptiste to help you counter

this common disconnection and feel

empowered by what he calls boundless

self-expression: “Having the freedom

to authentically be and act outside the

confines of doing things ‘the right way,’

without feeling limited and bound up by

expectations imposed on us by others,”

Baptiste explains. “In this free space to

express, we enter a realm of self-discovery

and new possibility that can alter our lives

in very real and tangible ways, both on

and off the mat.”

This sequence will engage you in an

expanding flow of chest- and heart open-

ers to create space for using principles of

“true north alignment.” “On both physical

and energetic levels, we are literally open-

ing and releasing the muscles of the chest,

which can result in a paradigm shift in

how we see life and ourselves,” Baptiste

explains. “We can begin to trust ourselves

in new ways and make choices that more

fully honor ourselves in any situation.”

Express yourself

Try this sequence

to connect to your

authentic Self.

LEARN MORE

Yoga Journal’s online Master Class

program brings the wisdom of world-

renowned teachers to your fingertips,

offering access to exclusive workshops

with a different master teacher every six

weeks. In March, Baron Baptiste pres-

ents a practice designed to enliven and

empower your practice. If you’re ready

to get a fresh perspective and maybe

even meet a lifelong yoga mentor, sign

up for YJ’s year-long membership at

yogajournal.com/masterclass.

MASTER CLASS
PRACTICE WELL