Less showing, more becoming.
When I completed my 200hr yoga teacher training, I thought I'd be overflowing with inspiration to post, teach and share everything I had learned. Instead I went silent. At first, I felt guilty about the silence. Like I owed it to people and even myself to show up online and prove I was growing and showcase what my certification had ‘given’ me. But then I realized something important, this pause was part of my yoga practice.
Social media is a blessing and a curse all in one. It blurs the line between authentic self and ego-driven proof. Sharing can become less about offering wisdom and more about needing validation. In yoga philosophy this part of the mind is the Ahamkara(uh-hum-KAH-rah) — the ‘I-maker’ or ego. Ahamkara isn’t all bad, it does help us function in the world. But it can also create attachment to seek approval, especially in places like social media. For me, it sounded like: “If you don’t post, how will people know what you’ve accomplished? If I don't share my growth, is it even happening?.” Yoga gives us the tools to soften these voices.
Right now I'm focused on less showing, more learning. Less producing, more absorbing.
What has this looked like? Connecting with South Asian–owned studios in Portland and learning from teachers whose voices root in authentic yoga. I’ve been seeking out workshops and courses that don’t just add “tools” to my teaching but give me a richer understanding of where yoga truly comes from. I want to honor yoga as more than a wellness trend…it’s a philosophy, a way of life, a lineage. Everything I'm gaining is being added into my own practice, because I want to be able to speak from experience and understanding, not just repetition.
At the same time, I’m starting to sense the path I want to walk as a teacher. I feel called to restorative yoga. There’s something powerful about guiding people into rest, into nervous system regulation, into quiet awareness. As someone passionate about hormone health, I see how practices that soothe the nervous system can directly support balance in the body. Restorative yoga feels like the bridge between my love for yoga and my desire to support people’s health in a deeply tangible way.
I don’t know how long this season of self-study will last. And honestly, I don’t want to rush it. I want to be patient. I want to let the knowledge settle in my body and my heart, so that when I eventually step forward, in a class, a workshop, or even just a post. It’s not from a place of proving, but from a place of authenticity.
I’m embracing the quiet. I'm practicing beyond asana. I trust that when the time is right, I’ll have something meaningful to share. Not because I “should,” but because it’s ready to be offered.
If you’ve ever felt the pressure to show up before you were ready, or if you’ve wondered whether your silence means you’re falling behind. I invite you to reframe it. Silence can be part of the practice. Waiting can be part of the growth. And sometimes, the most important work happens in the seasons when we’re not visible at all.
I’ll leave you with this: When you share your practices, knowledge or even creativity, what comes from true presence and what comes from the Ahamkara seeking recognition?.