1. Abundance is a state of mind. I have plenty of food, shelter, warmth, and love in my life. Yoga has taught me I have the choice to savor them all and feel blessed or spend my days pining away for the lifestyle the Joneses put on their credit cards. I think I’d rather be happy and content.
2. Things are less fulfilling than experiences. I love when a yoga teacher asks me to be still for a few minutes after a pose and just observe how my body and mind feels. For me, contentment is that moment of rest after a great chest opener like Camel Pose. I’ve noticed that when I step back to observe how I feel after any heartfelt activity in my life—a yoga class, hike, or visit with a friend—I feel better than I’ve ever felt after a shopping trip, no matter how big or grandiose the purchase. The happiness I feel after a fulfilling experience is also longer lasting and less harmful to myself (and usually the planet) than the high I get from spending money.
3. But some things are worth every cent. I think of living a healthy, yoga lifestyle as an investment in myself and my future. It’s true that I might spend more money on healthy foods, yoga classes, preventive health care, and things that motivate me to be healthy than is always necessary for my daily life. But I truly believe that these choices will save me a lot of money and heartache later on.
4. Seeking stability and flexibility is the key to balance. My body is naturally very flexible, so to avoid injury I have to work harder at building my muscle strength to create stability in my poses. I’ve learned a similar lesson in my financial life. It takes a willingness to use money on things that matter and a structure to keep everything in check.
5. Reuse. Recycle. Repeat. Ahimsa (non-harming) to me means not using more than I need, finding creative ways to give new life to things I’ve already got, and buying things secondhand when I can. This saves tons of money, has made me realize just how many things I already own, and makes me feel good about the way I’ve chosen to live my life.
What lessons has your yoga practice taught you about your financial life?
Erica Rodefer Winters
