Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:12] Welcome to Deep in your yoga practice. I'm Lauren Leduc, the owner and founder of True Love Yoga in Kansas City, Missouri. And today we're going to be talking about living your Dharma, walking your purpose through yoga. I'm so happy you're here and that we get to talk about this concept that's really important to me today. Darling, Dharma is often translated as purpose, direction, or the way we're meant to walk in the world. As we settle into a new year, Dharma becomes a natural point of contemplation. So I wanted to help facilitate that for you today. And a little bit later on, I'll also talk a little bit about our 200 hour yoga teacher training at True Love Yoga. But before we get to that, let's talk Dharma. So what is Dharma? Let's talk about yogic and everyday definitions. In the Bhagavad Gita, Dharma means rule of law. It means aligning with ethics and aligning with the rule of the divine. It also speaks of Swadharma, which is typically what people in modern day are talking about when they say Dharma. This is the sacred duty of your soul. It's the action your spirit came here to express. It's not always a job title. It's more this quality or essence of your being. The modern interpretation of this is your authentic path, your gifts in action, the work you do that feels both meaningful and natural, and also how you show up in relationships and community and in your personal evolution.
[00:01:38] Dharma doesn't mean destiny. It's not this rigid path that you're forced onto. Dharma is this living and evolving relationship with your inner truth. Let's talk about Dharma in the context of the Bhagavad Gita, which is one of the classic texts of yoga. This story is one about Arjuna and his master Krishna. Arjuna is stuck on the battlefield. He's full of doubt, of fear, of perfectionism, and of overwhelm before this big familial battle he's meant to engage with. And Krishna, his charioteer and his master, reminds him that you're not meant to live someone else's path. That purpose isn't always something that's glamorous. That avoidance leads to suffering. And that action, when done with love and alignment, is victory in itself. One of the key teachings of the Bhagavad Gita is it's better to live your own Dharma imperfectly than someone else's perfectly.
[00:02:37] So this means not doing things because you think you should, but because something within you, your spirit, your soul, is calling so it becomes very important to engage in inner listening and to be able to start trusting in your soul's callings and your soul's whisperings. So how does dharma show up in your body and your heart and in your practice? It can actually be this feeling in your body. Signs that you're aligned with your dharma might be that energy flows easily.
[00:03:10] You feel both grounded and inspired. Your decisions feel clear, and you feel like you. Signs that you're misaligned might be chronic indecision, burnout, feeling trapped or uninspired, maybe feeling contracted in your own body, and maybe a sense of feeling. I meant for something more. More or different than what I'm doing right now. Yoga can act as this mirror for us. Our mats show us our patterns. Where we hold back, where we push too hard, where we collapsed, and also where we shine. So how can we begin discovering our dharmas? One, you can follow your curiosity.
[00:03:50] Dharma often whispers instead of shouts.
[00:03:54] So what lights you up and what feels like a relief to you? Also look at what comes naturally. What skills or qualities or ways of being feel authentic to you? Also notice where you feel most useful. Where do your gifts help others?
[00:04:11] You might also observe what drains you versus what energizes you. And what energizes you might be a key indicator of where your Dharma lies. Also ask your body, do certain ideas create expansion in your body? Do others create a sense of tightness? And really take note of what creates those feelings of expansion of heart openness? Also look at your challenges. Sometimes your Dharma arises from your wounds, from the things that you've been through and the things that you've survived or the things that you've learned deeply. Dharma comes from this wisdom that springs from experience. You can also practice swadiyaya, or self study.
[00:04:49] This involves meditation, journaling, reading, therap, maybe pranayama and asana, all things that reveal layers of truth. Sometimes we know our Dharma deep inside, but we need to uncover layers of conditioning to discover it and to acknowledge it. Maybe part of your Dharma is yoga teacher training. It doesn't necessarily have to mean becoming a teacher, but maybe it's deepening your yoga practice to deepen your own self, understanding and purpose. Becoming a yoga teacher isn't just about teaching classes classes. It's moving toward clarity and purpose and alignment. Yoga teacher training is this amazing container for dharma discovery. YTT supports identity, clarity, emotional resilience, learning how to hold space for yourself and others, developing confidence, understanding your voice and purpose, and creating community support. Instead of doing things all alone, there are A lot of common fears around ytt they might be I'm not experienced enough, I'm not flexible enough. I'm too old, too young, too busy. Who am I to be a yoga teacher? These fears are like Arjuna moments when he's frozen on the battlefield, unable to move forward. Dharma asks us to step toward these fears with bravery because often there are breakthroughs there. There is so much to discover on the other side and so many positive, beautiful things to align ourselves with so that we can live our lives with more clarity and purpose and intention. How do you know if yoga teacher training is part of your dharma? Maybe explore if the idea keeps returning to your mind or heart. Do you feel a pull or spark when you imagine it? Would you love to deepen your practice beyond what drop in classes offer? Are you craving community or sangha? And do you want to contribute meaningfully to others?
[00:06:48] And what does it feel like in your body when you think of yoga teacher training? Is it expansive? Is it restrictive? Is is it exciting? Does it present a challenge? These are all bits of information meant precisely for you. Dharma is rarely a lightning bolt. It's often a quiet nudge. So really listen inwardly and notice if you are feeling that nudge. Whether or not you're interested in yoga teacher training, here are some simple practices to align with your Dharma today on the mat, choose one pose and practice it with total presence. Notice when you hold back and where you step forward and you might invoke a mantra here of show me the next right step off the mat. You might write down one thing you want to do this year that scares you and set a two minute timer and act on a tiny piece of it. And as you do this, practice tapas or discipline in one small daily habit, returning to it again and again. And notice moments of yes and no in your body as you are working toward this thing that scares you. I also have some journaling prompts for you to help align with your Dharma. The first is what is meaningful to me right now. Next is what am I most afraid to pursue?
[00:08:05] Then what is one way I feel called to serve? And finally, what brings out my most grounded, empowered self? So just a reminder that our True Love Yoga 200 hour yoga teacher training for 2026 starts in March. It is dual format so it occurs both in person and virtually. You have self paced virtual content and then we have live content that can be attended in person or virtually. We have beautiful systems of support through the student base and cohort and through our teachers as well as mentorship and community.
[00:08:40] And Again, we have $500 off if you enroll and pay by the 31st of this month. If you're unsure, you can go to our website and download a free guide called are you ready to become a yoga teacher? And that will help you uncover some of this dharma work and decide whether or not you're aligned right now with this training. So as we close, I wanna leave you with a blessing of May you trust the quiet truth inside you, May you walk the path only you can walk, and may your dharma unfold with clarity, with courage, and with grace. Thank you so much for joining me today. And if you are interested in ytt, please reach out. I'd love for you to join our cohort. It is so enriching and fun and such a beautiful addition to your life. Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, Om Shanti Om. Peace.
