Coming Home to Yourself

Hello!

How are you doing?

I hope this letter finds you well!

In this letter, I’ve created an 'Explore Your Own Self-Love Practice’ experience that builds on the recent somatic yoga practice I shared on YouTube.

I’ve created three practices you can explore, each one connected to self-love. You’re welcome to choose just one, or try one today and another tomorrow. You can also choose not to engage at all if it doesn’t feel right for you.

Somatic practices remind us that we always have a choice. They support us in listening to ourselves, honouring our own needs and reclaiming our sense of agency, moment by moment.

As you read through the following practices, I invite you to observe how your body responds with curiosity. Notice any thoughts, images, physical sensations, emotions, or beliefs that arise.

After reading each one, feel free to explore the practice that feels right for you–whether that’s now or later in your day. 🙂

Explore Your Own Self-Love Practice:

1) Reflections of Self-Love

• I invite you to either stand in front of a mirror or find a small mirror that you can comfortably hold in your hand.
• Now, softly meet your own gaze, and allow your breath to flow naturally.
• I welcome you to maintain eye contact for around 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
• Notice what sensations arise – physical, emotional, thoughts, beliefs, etc.
• If you feel an urge to look away, you can choose to honour that urge, and then return to meeting your gaze when it feels right.
• After some time, I invite you to speak loving and affirming words to yourself as you continue to look into your eyes.
• If you’re looking for some affirmations to explore, you might try:
• “I am enough, exactly as I am.”
• “I am worthy of love.”
• “I give myself permission to take up space.”
• “I am here for myself, no matter what arises.”
• “I trust the unfolding of my life.”
• “I am learning to honour my needs.”
• “I honour my healing process.”
• As you repeat your affirmations, notice any sensations that arise in your body.
• Meet whatever surfaces–whether it’s warmth, discomfort, or emotion–with non-judgemental curiosity.
• If you’re feeling the need for grounding, you might choose to place a hand on your heart or offer yourself a hug.
• You’re welcome to stay with the practice for as long as it feels supportive.
• When you feel ready to transition out, take three conscious breaths, gently following the movement of air in and out of your body.

You may choose to journal about your experience afterward.

This practice is one that you can return to as often as you like. It offers a beautiful way to nurture your inner world with kindness, reminding you of your worth, your value, and the love that lives within you.

2) Checking in with Care

• I invite you to find a comfortable position of your choosing–standing, sitting, or lying down–whatever feels right in this moment.
• Softly rest one hand on your heart space and the other can rest gently on your belly.
• As you connect with your breath, either soften your focus or close your eyes.
• I invite you to bring your awareness to your breath, noticing the gentle expansion with every inhale, and the soft contraction with each exhale.
• It’s natural for your focus to wander from the breath. When it feels right, gently bring yourself back to the present moment by repeating, “I’m here.”
• When you feel ready, I invite you to ask yourself, either aloud or in your head, “What do I need right now?”
• Feel free to gently repeat this question a few times to yourself. You might hear a clear answer right away, and sometimes it can take some time to connect with what your body is asking for.
• I invite you to listen without judgement.
• When you have a sense of what your body needs, you might take a moment to thank your body for speaking to you.
• If it feels right, you might choose to honour what your body needs–whether that be a sip of water, rest, movement, peace and quiet, music, laughter, connecting with nature, a good cry, connection, and so on.

You’re welcome to explore this practice as often as you’d like.

Generally-speaking, many of us have been conditioned to prioritize the needs of others before our own. I often remind myself that I can’t pour from an empty cup. When my inner resources are low, it becomes harder to show up fully and authentically–for my family, for our community, and for myself.

It’s taken time for me to believe that tending to my own needs isn’t selfish–it’s a loving choice that nourishes me and helps me contribute to the world with greater presence and compassion.

3) Creating your Safe Space

• I invite you to find a comfortable seat that feels right for you, and rest your hands wherever feels most supportive.
• When you feel ready, take a few gentle breaths, allowing yourself to arrive fully in this moment.
• You’re welcome to soften your gaze or gently close your eyes.
• I invite you to imagine a soft light resting just above your head–you can choose the colour that feels most soothing to you.
• With each cycle of breath, this soft light gently widens and flows downward, forming a bubble that surrounds your entire body. Above your head, below your feet, and all around you.
• As you rest in the center of your bubble, I invite you to bring your awareness to its size–notice how wide and tall it feels around you.
• Observe if the bubble grows or softens with each cycle of breath.
• How does it feel to be held in this gentle space, welcoming the sensations that arise with curiosity.
• Within this space, your energy, feelings, and needs are deeply respected, honoured, and protected.
• You get to decide what enters your bubble–only what truly supports and nourishes you. Anything that doesn’t serve your well-being simply remains outside of your bubble.
• I invite you to bring your awareness to the natural ebb and flow of your breath as you rest within your bubble for as long as it feels good.
• Now, begin to invite gentle movement back into your body. When you feel ready, open your eyes and bring your awareness back to the space around you.
• A loving reminder that your bubble stays with you, offering peace, love, and nourishment wherever you go.

This visualization practice invites you to explore boundaries as an expression of self-love. Setting boundaries is a compassionate way to honour your physical, emotional, mental, and energetic well-being. Boundaries respect your needs and create space for rest, healing, and growth. Expressing your boundaries is an act of self-respect, clearly communicating what you are willing to accept and what you are not. Boundaries help us show up more authentically in all our relationships, and are ultimately an act of love–for ourselves and others.

I hope that you find these somatic practices meaningful and supportive!

Each practice is designed to guide you gently back home to yourself, helping you reconnect with the love that lives and flows within you.

I believe that we are all love, and that love is our natural and truest state of being.

This love can become hidden beneath layers of protection, shaped by the ways we’ve learned to remain safe over the years.

This is why I feel so connected to somatic practices. They offer a safe and supportive space to gently explore what it feels like to reconnect with the love within.

With loving care and patience with the process, somatic practices can help us soften the layers of protection, guiding us back home to our most authentic selves.

**********

I have a new somatic yoga practice for you: Somatic Yoga for Self-Love.

May this practice support you in reconnecting with the love that lives within you. Please click on the image or the button below to join, and I will see you there!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter.

I feel so grateful that we can connect in this way!

I’m putting together next month’s calendar, and the theme that’s been calling out to me is “Rise.”

You’ll be able to find the updated calendar on my website within the next two days. It will be available here: https://www.yogawithrachelmarie.com/calendar​

You can download the calendar, save it as a digital copy, or print it off, whichever feels best.

I often include reflection questions related to our monthly theme, offering an invitation to explore them as you move through your yoga practice and your daily life. You can find these questions under the ‘Posts’ tab on YouTube.

Alright dear friend, that’s all I have for you this week!

Wishing you a beautiful day and a wonderful rest of your week!

Take care,

~ Rachel