I know it isn’t good for me and still, I do it. Regularly

Just because I am a yogi and breathwork facilitator doesn’t mean I have abs that show, the perfect life or that I am calm all day.

The way i see it is that life has its phases and progess too. Yoga and breathwork help me ease through life's most wonderful and difficult time. Its my anker and I love to share that with others. Because yoga isn't only my practice on the mat, it unfolds in every area of my life. It’s a lifestyle I choose to be inspired by. Therefore I am a student of life, that keeps teaching me, again and again playfully and with an open heart.

When discipline feels like a cage

When I hear the word discipline, it makes me rebel and a feeling rising of restrictions, boring routines, and being hard on yourself. With a past where I’ve seen restrictions to food solve into an eating disorder, or wanting to lose weight became an obsession for everything that’s bad and drinking alcohol on a daily basis in order to suppress feelings. It was never the food, alcohol or the impossible goal, its always simply an emotion that needs forgiveness, recognition.

What I find discipline is actually about

It’s asking myself: How can I treat myself with more kindness? Discipline is about respect and self-love.

Knowing all this and yet, I still do things I know don’t serve me. My inner critic loves to whisper: “See, you’ll never be consistent, you don’t have discipline, or I can’t stick to routines.. You’re not disciplined enough.

But here’s the truth: discipline doesn’t have to be this big, perfect thing. It can be ridiculously small. Like one conscious breath before opening your eyes in the morning.

One tiny choice counts. It builds self-trust. And tells your nervous system: “I care about me.”

Small disciplines, Big shifts

Discipline can look very simple. I notice these small things actually create the biggest shifts:

• Choosing water before coffee

• One single breath in all presence, breathing in and breathing out

• Taking a mindful break listening to a short-guided meditation instead of hurrying to my next meeting

  
  

These little choices add up. They send a message to our body and mind: “I matter. My wellbeing matters.” And that is self-love. I’m practicing discipline as self-love, not as self-punishment.

Intentional living

What I am saying is that discipline is more about respect. Respect for the body I live in for my energy, my time. It’s about being intentional with the food I eat, the environment I expose myself to. Discipline is about intentional living and therefore being more in the Moment itself. To be able to feel every breath I breathe during my practice. My choices are all part of how I experience life itself.

Knowing all this and yet, I still stumble.

But that’s what makes this path real, human, and playful. This kind of discipline, the gentle, forgiving, loving kind, being more aware is something I believe we all have within us.

My long story short:

If you’re starting yoga or breathwork, just remember: discipline isn’t about rules. It’s about love. And love is a practice too.

With Love,

Veerle