Add them to your routine and start reaping the mental and physical benefits

A huge part of yoga are mantras that are scattered throughout the practice.

Mantras can be a syllable, word, phrase, or simply a sound that is believed to have psychological benefits and even mystic powers in some cultures.

Many practicing “yogis” believe that mantras can heal multiple different ailments.

They believe using them can help with mental and energy blockages. They also believe that mantras can be used to work through past trauma, as well as emotional imbalance, and negative emotions.

“Mantras are a truly powerful tool. The words, phrases, or sounds you choose as your mantra in your yoga and meditation practices can help to keep you tethered to your mat, and keep your mind focused.” — YogiApproved

Personally, mantras have helped me challenge my physical limits and work through emotional difficulties and a previously constructed belief system.

The following are simple mantras that I incorporate into my everyday life that have helped me be more present, on and off the yoga mat.

“I am enough”

What I love most about mantras is how simple they are.

For many years, I struggled to overcome codependency and insecurities that I had carried with myself since childhood. I never wanted to be alone because, at times, I truly hated the person I saw in the mirror.

That was no way to live so I began practicing yoga and I still remember the first time I heard the three simple words.

I am enough.

The difficult circumstances we go through are not a result of something we did, instead, they are meant to challenge us and make us stronger. If you remember that you are enough, you can face these challenges head-on and come out on the other side even stronger.

“I am worthy”

How often do we tell ourselves that we aren’t worthy of what happens to us?

We get a promotion and think perhaps it was a mistake, and that someone else should have gotten it.

Someone tells us that they love us and we wonder if it’s true because of trauma that lies in our past making us believe that we not worthy of being loved.

It took me years and years to realize this but I am worthy of love. I am worthy of the good things that happen to me, and I decided it was time to stop selling myself short.

You need to start repeating this mantra because it could take you a very long time to believe it. You are worthy, but you have to believe it for yourself first before you can begin accepting the blessings that come your way.

“I change my thoughts, I change my world”

Currently, our world is a bit smaller and more limited than normal and it is much more difficult than usual to keep a positive attitude when so much negativity is swirling around us.

Therefore our thoughts are more important than ever. It’s easy to feel like we have no control over the uncertainty in the world. But we still have control of our reactions, our thoughts, and how we respond to the constant noise by the media that we are being hit with right now.

Use this opportunity to push yourself farther than usual. Change your attitude and use this time to do something you wouldn’t normally do.

If you live with your significant other, instead of viewing this self-quarantine as being trapped with them, change your mindset and view it as a time to get closer and figure out new things to do together.

Instead of constantly streaming TV, tackle a personal project, take an online class, or tap into your creative side.

Instead of falling into a negative spiral, change your thoughts and embrace this opportunity to control only what you can.

“I have time”

In the past few weeks, many of us have gone from having no time to having possibly too much time in our eyes due to being confined to our homes.

None of us know how much time we have on this earth and we don’t know what tomorrow can bring. We need to view time as a resource and a gift, not something to be wasted.

I will sometimes change this mantra to “I have time now” to remind myself that time is not something I will have forever.

By recognizing the amazing blessing that time is you can work on being more present in your life and mindful of how you are using the time that you have been given.

“I will let go”

If there is anything we have seen in the past few weeks, it is that we cannot control every aspect of our lives.

There are always going to be outside forces that we can not and will not be able to control.

Right now our world is not the same as it was a month ago.

Society has changed overnight and when all of this is over, we need to accept that it will most likely not be the same that it was.

Letting go is a decision that will lead to much more growth and remind you that you should not hold on to the things that no longer serve you.

Let go of the pain and let go of anxiety and fear to allow room for happiness and contentment in your life.