With Valentine’s Day approaching, many of us are thinking about how we’ll celebrate: cards, flowers, chocolates, and time spent with loved ones.
While this day often emphasizes pouring love outward, it can also be a meaningful opportunity to turn inward and offer yourself the care and affection you may be needing, whether or not you’re in a relationship.
After all, giving generously to others is much easier when we’ve first taken the time to steady and nourish ourselves.
So this Valentine’s Day, let’s flip the script and make it about you.
Here are five simple ways to show up for yourself through the lens of your yoga practice.
1 | Slow It Down
Maybe your weekly go-to is a fast-paced, sweat-dripping vinyasa class. Or perhaps it’s a strength-focused Pilates session that leaves you feeling accomplished, but spent. This week, consider switching it up.
Choosing a slower, gentler class allows the mind to stay rooted in the present moment and creates space to notice what often gets missed in constant motion.
Whether it’s:
- returning to the foundations of asana with Hatha Yoga,
- sinking into connective tissue with Yin Yoga, or
- entering deep rest through Restorative Yoga,
slowing down is an invitation to clarity, resonance, and truth.
2 | Stay in Savasana Longer
You made it to class. You moved, you breathed, you stayed with it. But wait—where are you going?
Stick around for all of Savasana. You’ve earned the real treat.
Savasana (Corpse pose) is often underestimated, especially by newer students. It may feel unfamiliar or uneventful compared to the rest of the practice, but it’s just as essential as any pose. Traditionally held for five to fifteen minutes, Savasana allows the body to fully integrate the benefits of movement.
So don’t rush it. Settle in and use props generously if they’re available:
- a block on the belly to deepen the breath
- a blanket for warmth and relaxation
- a bolster under the knees to release the lower back
- an eye mask to block light and support deeper rest
3 | Make It All About the Breath
It’s easy to focus primarily on the physical shapes we create on the mat, especially when we’re learning alignment and form. But one of the most profound ways to show yourself care is by allowing yourself to truly breathe.
Follow each inhale all the way to the top. Stay with the exhale all the way down. Let it feel like a slow, scenic journey, with plenty to discover along the way.
The breath offers so much when integrated with movement, which is why it’s foundational to yoga. In truth, there is no yoga without mindful breathing. So turn your drishti inward and begin noticing the anatomy and rhythm of your breath.
4 | Enjoy the Silence
We ask students to silence their phones and leave them outside the studio for a reason: it creates a calm, respectful environment for everyone. But what if that quiet didn’t end when class did?
Try keeping your ringer off on the drive home and letting the radio stay silent. If you’re walking, resist the urge to reach for your phone and continue focusing on your breath instead. This allows your practice to follow you beyond the mat, creating a gentle halo effect that carries into the rest of your day.
5 | Soak in That Goodness
With its twists, folds, and diaphragmatic breathing, a well-rounded yoga practice, gentle or vigorous, often stirs up a healthy appetite. That’s no coincidence.
Yoga stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the rest-and-digest response. This increases blood flow to the stomach and intestines, enhances peristalsis, and supports a healthier microbiome. Research even suggests that consistent yoga practice can improve absorption of key micronutrients like zinc, iron, and magnesium.
In other words, after practice, your body is primed to receive nourishment. So why not honour that by offering it a wholesome, nutrient-dense meal?
You Deserve This
Self-love doesn’t always come naturally, and it isn’t just a feeling. It’s reflected in our choices. One of the simplest ways to begin is by noticing where we rush, override our needs, or skip the moments that invite us into deeper presence.
We rush through stillness instead of staying in Savasana.
We push ourselves into paces that don’t serve our well-being.
We focus on how the practice looks instead of how it feels.
We surround ourselves with constant noise.
We miss opportunities to savour the sweetness life offers.
This Valentine’s Day, let your yoga practice be a reminder that you’re worthy of care, attention, and gentleness, exactly as you are.
What’s Happening at the Studio This February
We have a few special offerings coming up to help you stay connected to your practice through the rest of winter.
Over the Family Day long weekend (February 14–16), we’re hosting a three-day Open House—a great opportunity to explore the studio, try classes, and reconnect with your practice.
We’re also offering a two-part Modo Posture Workshop led by Dione. This workshop breaks down the Modo sequence in depth, with the first session focusing on the standing series on February 22, and the second diving into the floor series on March 8. Whether you’re newer to the practice or looking to refine your understanding, this series offers valuable insight and practical tools you can bring onto your mat.
Reserve your spot for our Be Community three-day Open House
Sign up for our two-part Modo Posture Workshop
About Kyneret:
Kyneret has been practicing and teaching yoga for over a decade, with a specialization in Yin and Restorative Yoga. She has always been intrigued by the remarkable healing powers of yoga and all the emerging scientific research that supports it. Her journey as an instructor at Modo Yoga Maple began in 2012. In November 2017, she decided to set off on a nomadic travel adventure while working remotely and has since been active within the Modo community as a blog writer. When not writing, Kyneret is fully immersed in the daily adventures of travel life and actively seeks out as many yoga experiences as possible to further her knowledge and skills.