Welcome back. This is part three of our winter series focused on maintaining energy during the colder months.

Before we dive in, a quick note. If you’ve been wanting more energy but do not have bandwidth for another program, stay with me. I’ve created something intentionally small and effective, and I’ll tell you about it before we wrap up.

Today, I want to talk about yoga.

But not in the way you might expect.

I start with a story I once read in Yoga Journal about a well-known yoga teacher who had maintained a “daily practice” for more than twenty years. What made his answer surprising was this: some days his practice was long, some days it was short, and some days he never unrolled his mat at all.

For him, daily practice did not mean rigid consistency or pushing himself.

It meant checking in and responding to what he needed that day.

Some days that meant movement.

Some days it meant stillness.

Some days it meant simple awareness.

That idea gets at the heart of what yoga really is. Yoga is not about flexibility, sweating through your clothes, or doing poses a certain way. It is about presence. And more specifically, it is about cultivating a kind, curious, nonjudgmental relationship with yourself.

I call this befriending.

In this episode, we explore what yoga is and what it is not, why yoga is very different from stretching, and how its benefits extend far beyond the mat. We also talk about why yoga can support energy, awareness, and wellbeing, even when practiced briefly and imperfectly.

I share insights from research showing that yoga supports awareness of internal cues, not through willpower or calorie burn, but through learning to listen to the body. I also share what I learned teaching yoga for seventeen years and why the idea that you have to be flexible, fit, or have lots of time to practice is simply not true.

We walk through a realistic framework for building a yoga practice that actually sticks, including how to anchor it to your day, keep it simple, and let it change depending on your needs.

If you are new to yoga, we also talk through gentle ways to get started, including in-person and online options, how to choose teachers, and a few accessible poses that feel good for many bodies.

Most importantly, we talk about how yoga becomes less about what happens on the mat and more about how you live. When you practice noticing, breathing, and responding with curiosity, those skills show up everywhere else too.

• Why yoga is about presence, not performance
• The difference between yoga and stretching
• How a flexible, responsive practice supports energy and wellbeing
• Why your yoga practice does not need to be long to be meaningful
• How to anchor a practice to your day so it actually sticks
• Simple ways to start yoga if you are new or returning
• Why awareness, not willpower, drives lasting change
• How yoga helps you respond rather than react to stress
• How practices on the mat translate into everyday life

Before we wrap up, I want to remind you of something I’ve created for those of you who want more energy but do not want another big commitment.

It’s called Say Yes to Energy.

This is a short, low-pressure experience where you choose one small habit that would support your energy right now. I help you shape it so it fits your real life, and you get light, human accountability so you are not doing it alone.

This is about rebuilding trust with yourself by keeping one small promise. For many people, that is where momentum finally begins.

You can learn more at:

https://prior10.com/energy

Thanks so much for listening.

Take good care of yourself this week.

Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment.

The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.