Radical Compassion: Meeting Myself on the Mat

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known how to feel for others. Empathy has always been a part of me — sensing pain, holding space, offering compassion when people needed it most. But last night, after a Yin yoga session, I experienced something I never had before: radical compassion for myself. It was the first time I felt unconditional love directed inward, toward my own younger self — the girl who struggled, raged, and longed to be seen. And it shifted everything I thought I knew about healing, yoga, and love.

From Fire to Stillness

In my 20s, hot yoga was my anchor. The heat, the intensity, the fire — they gave me a way to metabolize all the anger and grief I didn’t know how to release. I never used props. I didn’t want to. Back then, I carried a distorted belief that I always had to be strong, that I had to push through on my own. Reaching for support felt like weakness. And so, I didn’t allow myself the softness of a prop — I denied myself the experience of being held.

But this past year, I’ve been drawn to Yin, to slowing down, to listening instead of pushing. Yet, there was still a part of me who denied myself the right to use props. And last night, I finally reached for a blanket and allowed it to support me through my 90-minute practice. The difference was profound. Instead of striving, I felt nourished. Instead of chasing, I felt held. Nothing “big” happened on the mat — no tears, no dramatic release. Just peace. But later, as I lay in bed, the flood came.

A Different Kind of Compassion

Memories rushed in: heartbreak, rage, the times I wanted to disappear. I saw the girl who punched walls, the young woman who stood on the edge of a window, aching for relief.

And for the first time, I didn’t judge her. I didn’t shame her. I didn’t tell her to toughen up or get it together. Instead, I wrapped her in love. I told her she was enough, exactly as she was. I gave her the words she had always longed to hear: “You are safe. You are loved. You existing is enough".

That was the breakthrough. The moment I understood that true compassion isn’t complete until it extends inward. That unconditional love for others can only flow as deeply as the love we’ve learned to offer ourselves. We can only meet others where we have met ourselves — on and off the mat.

The Call of Trauma-Informed Yin Yoga

Last night gave me more than healing; it gave me clarity. After my teacher training, I know the path I want to follow: trauma-informed Yin Yoga. Because Yin isn’t about performance or achievement. It’s about creating a space of radical safety, where the body can rest, the heart can soften, and the spirit can receive what it’s been longing for. Yin gave me the chance to finally meet myself with unconditional love — and I want to hold that space for others too.

An Invitation

Yin may not be for everyone. Sometimes we need the fire, the flow, the intensity — I certainly did in my 20s. But if you feel a quiet tug to slow down, to soften, to let yourself be supported, Yin might be calling you. All you need is a mat, a blanket or pillow, and a willingness to be gentle with yourself. The rest unfolds slowly, tenderly, in its own time.

Because sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs don’t come from doing more. They come from learning how to receive. And that’s where radical compassion begins.

With so much love,

Solarys