How Yoga Changed My Life – Reaching for Inner Peace
The first change was in my emotional states. I became much more calm, centered, and at peace with myself and the outside world. Small things that had previously annoyed or given me great anxiety became inconsequential. Instead, of responding with anger or annoyance, I would notice my feelings and be able to examine them before reacting. In this way, I was able to save myself a lot of inner turmoil and pain. Along with the feelings of calm and inner peace, I also began to experience prolonged periods of inner joy and happiness. Simple things like a person saying hello, or a pretty picture, would bring immense pleasure and satisfaction. I believe this is due, in part, to the meditation practice of eliminating stray thoughts along with the ability to stay present. Along the way, two books have been instrumental in my self discovery: The Ptanjali Yoga Sutras and the Toa Te Ching have been my beacons and continue to guide my life, adding their ancient yet profoundly useful wisdom and guidance.
For more information about the Yoga Sutras, see my post Best Books About Meditation and Yoga
Related posts:
- Four keys to happiness and inner peace from the patanjali yoga sutras
- Best Books About Meditation and Yoga – The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- Benefits of Yoga: Tip of The Iceberg
- Dealing With Emotional Pain Through Kriya Yoga: A Lesson In Acceptance & Rejuvination
- Best book on Taoism: The Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell

I just started doing a simple beginner’s 45 minute yoga workout on exercise tv everyday for almost 3 months now. I experienced the exact same thing described in this article in literally a week. I came out of a deep depression so quickly that my friends thought i decided to take anti-depressants or sought professional help. Yoga truly gave me inner peace and happiness in everyday little things. I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know. I hope to get better at the practice and continue it for the rest of my life. Life experiences changed me into a pessimistic, tense person that I couldn’t get rid of. Yoga helped me remember the happy, peaceful girl I used to be and I’m so grateful.