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The source of everything in our world comes from a deeper source within us. When we tap into that source, that part of us that is eternal and ever present, we are able to experience a level of happiness and fulfillment that might otherwise allude us. Matter also springs from this very source, and by itself is subject to the law of birth and death.

So if we solely identify ourselves with our material lives, something will always seem to be missing. This is not to say that our earthly lives have no meaning to them, but rather that aligning our earthly lives to our spiritual lives gives us a sense of deeper purpose and happiness.

While we are in our bodies, we tend to attach ourselves to identities that have to do with form. We think of ourselves as our names, our job titles, or the strongest attachments we have are to our roles in our relationships — mother, daughter, sister, brother, father, wife, lover, friend, teacher and so on. Similarly we project onto others the identity of the roles they play in our lives. The stronger our attachment to these identities, the greater difficulty we have in remembering our true essence, the innermost part of our being.

You can have joyous, happy and loving relationships, you can learn to break through the blocks that keep you from experiencing true intimacy and connection. The key lies within your subconscious mind. Meditation is a tool to work with this subconscious mind, and allow what is within you to open your heart to love.

When most people think about moving their body, they inevitably think about working out, or exercising. That is also how most people think about Yoga in the West, they associate it with fitness, becoming more flexible, stronger. There are no shortages of videos promoting the benefits of Yoga as a workout, as a way to destress and maybe find some relaxation at the end of the class lying down for a few minutes on the mat. This approach to yoga while a good start, is one-dimensional and is only the tip of the iceberg.

All our relationships are a reflection of our relationship with ourselves. Through practicing yoga, we get to know ourselves on a deeper level. There is a saying that goes ‘how you do one thing is how you do everything’. When we are on the mat, it is an exploration not just of our bodies, but also of how we tend to treat ourselves and what our default ways of being are. For example, if during asana practice, we find ourselves getting impatient with ourselves or we find that there is a strong inner critic judging our practice, chances are that this critic exists in other areas of our lives as well. And if we are critical of ourselves, it will in some form or another, spill over into our relationships.

For the longest time, every intimate relationship I got into with a man seemed to have the same toxic qualities to it. Starting with an early marriage and divorce, every man I dated and fell for was in some way or another not right for me.

Eventually I realized that I was dating the same person over and over again; until my last relationship, which while even it was one of the most painful experiences to be in, I woke up and realized that this person in front of me was reflecting all my fears, my shadows and beliefs of myself.

He was the harshest mirror I ever looked into, yet I will forever be grateful we crossed paths. This relationship, and more importantly the break up and healing from it, was the most honest experience I had. It helped me understand a simple truth — love is an internal experience, not an external one.