What Yoga Taught Me During a Summer of Sickness
This summer has been a reminder to truly practice what I teach as a yoga teacher and practitioner. I’ve been dealing with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a severe form of pregnancy nausea. And it’s changed the way I move, rest, and care for myself.
During the weeks I was at my sickest, I barely moved at all. I was in bed, resting, and had to step away from practice completely. At first that felt hard to accept, but I kept coming back to something I know deep down: sometimes we need to pause. Sometimes doing nothing is the practice. We’re always changing, and our needs shift with us. Honoring that is part of yoga too.
On other days, yoga looked like lying in child’s pose for a few breaths, or stretching gently to ease the tightness that comes from being curled up in bed for so long. The more dynamic flows I usually love just weren’t possible—and that had to be okay.
This experience reminded me of something I’ve shared many times before: yoga isn’t about being “good” at it. It isn’t about pushing through or meeting someone else’s standard of what a practice should look like. It’s about listening inward, noticing your energy, and choosing what supports you in that moment.
For me this summer, that support was often rest. But for you, it might look different. Some days, it could mean rolling out your mat for a strong vinyasa flow to release stress and feel energized. Other days, it could mean a slow, grounding practice like yin or restorative yoga, especially if your mind feels scattered or your body feels heavy. And sometimes, it might mean skipping yoga altogether and taking a walk outside, breathing fresh air, or simply lying on the couch with a book.
We all have different needs, and those needs change from day to day, even from hour to hour. That’s not something to resist or feel guilty about. It’s something to notice, listen to, and honor.
Yoga meets you where you are, not where you think you should be. And that’s more than enough.
If you take one thing from this, let it be a gentle reminder to check in with yourself today. How are you feeling? What do you need? And what kind of movement—or stillness—would support you best right now?
I’d love to hear your reflections. Feel free to email med to share your thoughts or DM me on Instagram!
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