Words  hold the powerful ability to influence the mind and soul. Here are some of my favorite yoga quotes that serve as encouragement throughout my yoga practice both on and off my mat.

1. “It’s not about being good at something. It’s about being good to yourself.” ~ Taylor Jenkins Reid.

2. “Don’t move the way fear makes you move. Move the way love makes you move. Move the way joy makes you move.” ~ Osho

3. “Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is part of the isness of the Now. You can’t argue with what is. Well, you can, but if you do, you suffer.”  ~ Eckhart Tolle

4. “Every waking moment we talk to ourselves about the things we experience. Our self-talk, the thoughts we communicate to ourselves, in turn control the way we feel and act.”  ~ John Lembo

5. “All I’m saying is that to liberate the potential of your mind, body and soul, you must first expand your imagination. You see, things are always created twice: first in the workshop of the mind and then, and only then, in reality. I call this process ‘blueprinting’ because anything you create in your outer world began as a simple blueprint in your inner world.” ~ Robin Sharma, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

6. “Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

7. “Wisdom is knowing we are all One. Love is what it feels like and Compassion is what it acts like.” ~ Ethan Walker III

8. “Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” ~ Rolf Gates

9. “There will always be people who can do it better than you, but that’s a good thing! Start to see competition as inspiration — without envy.” ~ Kathryn Budig

10. “True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.” ~ Aadil Palkhivala