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sun

@sunsouled

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I spend most of my time upside down
200 YTT

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Sometimes versus most of the time

While inversions are fun and I’m proud to show them off because of the hard work it takes to do them, they don’t make up a majority of my practice. The strength and confidence I feel after achieving a pose I’ve worked months or years towards is incredible, but they are not the only benefits I gain from yoga.

The truth is, most of my practices are done on the ground, usually with a blanket wrapped around me and in my biggest, comfiest clothes. My most beneficial sessions are ones that I follow the flow and needs of my body, not working towards a specific pose, because I crave peace more often than I crave power.

My energy levels, strength, and mood change constantly, especially throughout my menstrual cycle. There are plenty of times where I avoid inversions entirely, such as; during my period when it can affect my hormonal balance, when I’m feeling weak and acknowledge I’d be risking injury, or just when I’m not in the mood to go through all of the falling that happens off camera before I’m able to find my balance that day. A major part of yoga is hearing and respecting your body and its needs.

I gain so much more from yoga than strength and confidence. Ive struggled with anxiety my whole life and it has been the only thing capable of clearing my head, even if it’s just for the short time I’m on the mat. I’ve developed patience towards myself and others, an understanding of myself and my body, and a connection to the world in a way I never had before. I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve proven I’m capable of, but I’m also incredibly grateful for the peace i feel when I just let myself exist.

There is no “right” way for your practice to look, because it’s about how it makes you feel. No amount of likes or followers could provide you the benefits of incorporating yoga into your life. The poses and sessions that lack flashiness and aesthetic can mean more than the ones you’d want to post on instagram.

Here’s a look into the reality of my practices, from falling and imperfections to cozy stillness. by @sunsouled

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10 months ago

I tend to only video/post the flashy poses and neglect all of the ones that allow me to access these poses. I post them because I’m proud of them, but without posting the work it takes to do them I am not giving people access to learn to do them themselves or even understand the work it takes to be able to.

Warm up, strength training, flexibility training, and cool downs are what allow my body to make progress in challenging poses. Theres never a time where I sit on my mat and go straight to headstands and other inversions. If I want to keep improving, I have to train the muscles needed for those poses and stretch them to prevent injuries that would drastically stunt my growth. Here’s clips from my practice (not in order) that encapsulates the work I do before and after flipping all around taken in Asbury Park, New Jersey by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Felt strong today #headstand #pincha #yogapractice by @sunsouled

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a year ago

DID YOU? #vote #2025midtermelections #localelections #votelocal #votelocally #vote2025 by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Closest I have gotten to flying crow, and all the failures that led up to my best attempt :) Might not seem like much, because I can only hold it for a few seconds, but I used to not be able to get my knee off of my arm. I used to only be able to hold crow itself for a few seconds. Enjoying the journey by @sunsouled

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a year ago

So crazy to think just a few years ago I struggled to hold crow pose for a few seconds, and now I can try funky variations of it. I watched myself improve throughout the years but don’t take the time to sit and appreciate all of the hard work I put in to get to this point. Remember to reflect on your wins, because it will make your failures feel less significant.

#crowpose #yoga #crow #flyingcrowpose taken in Asbury Park, New Jersey by @sunsouled

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a year ago

The only time my mind is quiet ♡ by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Me any time I experience an ounce of stress taken in New York by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Determined to fly

Yoga has given me a sense of power, a confidence in my body and its abilities. Seeing my hard work impact other aspects of my fitness journey - such as better form during weight lifting or more strength to take poses off the ground - is extremely rewarding. I’m reminded that progress can look different than what you’re expecting it to look like and if you are too focused on looking a certain way or accomplishing a certain pose, you’ll miss out on all the other ways you’ve been improving along the way. When I stopped expecting my body to look a certain way from working out, I started to love how it looks during all phases of its transformation and began enjoying the act of working out itself. I’m very thankful for yoga for the mental growth it’s provided me because now the physical growth feels more meaningful.

#yoga #yogi #aerialyoga #aerial #aerialhammock #flying #peakpose #yogaflows #yogaflow #yogapractice by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Remember to have fun! by @sunsouled

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a year ago

I was much closer to the wall than I thought I would be in the last pic by @sunsouled

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a year ago

Handstand practice taken in Metta Yoga NJ by @sunsouled

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a year ago