In a world that often moves at lightning speed, the practice of MINDFULNESS offers us a gentle invitation to slow down, notice, and be fully present. This May, our yoga journey is rooted in mindfulness — not just as a practice on the mat, but as a way of living, sensing, and being.
Our theme, MINDFUL MAY, centers around cultivating deeper awareness by using minimal cues during our yoga classes. Rather than guiding every movement with instruction, I am inviting you to embrace spaciousness and simplicity, allowing each one of you to tune inward and move with intention. This is what yoga really is, cultivating the Union with one-Self.
🧘♀️ What Is Mindfulness in Yoga?
I am certain you have all heard the word Mindfulness; it’s a little buzzword in the holistic wellness industry but what exactly is MINDFULNESS IN YOGA?
Mindfulness is the art of paying attention — to the body, the breath, and the present moment — without judgment. It’s the practice of noticing sensations, emotions, and thoughts as they arise, and choosing to stay present with what is, rather than striving for what should be.
As Jon Kabat-Zinn beautifully defines it:
“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”
In a yoga setting, this means being deeply aware of how each posture feels, how your breath flows, and how your body responds — not just executing poses, but experiencing them fully.
🎧 The Power of Minimal Cues
In Mindful May, we explore a quieter approach to our flow and guidance in our yoga classes.
Minimal cues in class are intentional — they encourage you to:
Feel more, think less: Without overthinking alignment or instruction, you can drop into the body and let it guide you.
Cultivate self-trust: Tuning into your own experience builds confidence in your inner wisdom.
Awaken subtle awareness: With less external input, you may notice more — the micro-adjustments, the breath patterns, the emotional undercurrents.
Slow down the mind: Fewer words mean more space for inner stillness and contemplation.
This approach doesn’t mean less support — it means EMPOWERED PRACTICE.
It’s a gentle nudge to shift from external validation to your internal knowing.
🌼 Benefits of Practicing Mindfulness (On and Off the Mat)
Mindfulness is more than a buzzword — it’s a powerful tool for overall well-being. It is something we can all benefit from practicing more off in our daily lives and teach our families and friends more about this too, some benefits of mindfulness include:
🌼 Reduced stress and anxiety
🌼 Improved emotional regulation (self-regulating our emotions are a powerful practice)
🌼Increased self-awareness and compassion
🌼Enhanced focus and clarity
🌼Greater body-mind connection
🌼A deeper sense of peace, contentment and presence
🌼Being fully aware of what is going on in and around your life (not auto-pilot or rushing)
🏡 Taking Mindfulness Off the Mat
Yoga gives us a sacred space to practice mindfulness, but the real magic happens when we carry that awareness into our everyday lives. Your weekly Dose of Bliss email will be filled with Mindfulness teachings, tips and practices for you to walk this path of mindfulness feeling supported as you grow through the unknown, and show up again and again with presence, care, and courage. Some you may already know, others may be gentle reminders and fresh insights, either way it is going to be MAGICAL.
Mindful May begins right here, right now:
Mindful Moment – Begin with the Body
Learn to relax every muscle in your body, one at a time. It sounds simple. But it’s profound.
Sit comfortably.
Take 3 deep breaths.
Bring awareness to your toes. Then your feet. Ankles. Legs. Keep going upward.
With each breath out, relax that area completely.
When we relax the body, we create the conditions for the mind to settle and the heart to open.
As we journey through Mindful May, I invite you to move slower, listen deeper, and be more fully present— on your mat and in your life.
