Living Consciously: The Path to a Fulfilled Life Through Yoga

Most of us move through our days on autopilot. We wake up, check our phones, rush through our routines, and go from one task to the next without really being there. Life becomes a blur, and even though we may be "doing all the right things," something feels missing. This feeling could be super subtle, in fact so subtle that perhaps you dont even understand it to be that. Its this deep, unconscious wave of something doesn't feel right - but because we are so busy, it's easy to miss. This was me but being a Virgo - i worked my little socks off and my over active mind kept me distracted.

But "something" is often a lack of presence—a disconnect from our deeper selves, our values, and the world around us. I thought i knew who i was, had these values that are still there of course, but my means to implement them were eratic and sometimes quite traumatic. That's because i wasn't living consciously, so often they would come out in reactive explosions, as opposed to well thought out responses to the world around me,

Living consciously is about waking up to life. It's about becoming aware of our thoughts, emotions, actions, and choices, and living with intention rather than reaction. For many, including myself, yoga has become a powerful gateway (understatement of the century), into this way of living. It offers tools that bring us back to the present moment, back to our bodies, and ultimately, back to ourselves.

In this post, I’ll share what conscious living really means, how it's changed my life, why it’s essential for a fulfilled life, and how yoga can help us live more intentionally, more peacefully, and more fully.

1. What Does It Mean to Live Consciously?

To live consciously means to live with awareness. It’s a commitment to waking up in your own life — not just physically in the morning, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The thing is, if you are unconsciously living, you are exactly that, unconscious. And those things we are not conscious of, we don't know needs change. So here are a few points that can help you start living more consciously..

When you live consciously:

• You become aware of your thoughts, instead of letting them run wild in the background. We practice this A LOT in yoga - recognise that you are not your thoughts or emotions, but the awareness behind them. My evening routine before dropping off to sleep used to be thinking about every terrible thing that could happen in that moment (which by the way was entirely normal for me and i didnt think was unhealthy), and then strategically plan an escape route out of the house with my daughter. Often these habitual thoughts resulted me having broken legs having jumped out of a top floor window holding Layna (wow lol), but I drifted off to sleep every evening, thinking like this was a happy .ending. Ah sweet dream … but now I know these to be intrusive thoughts. It sounds far out, but i have spoken to many of you about intrusive thoughts, and the reality is, the moment we consciously label them as intrusive thoughts, they lose their power because we no longer attach ourselves to them as real, and therefore don't get lost in a whirl wind of more thoughts.

• You respond instead of react - this is now my superpower. I have always been super reactive, and don't get me wrong if something catches me off gaurd or really hurts me, or brings out a strong emotion, there will be an element of reaction, (i am human aftger all), but this is NOTHING in comparison to how i would have responded before yoga. That immediate reaction triggers something in me now to say STOP, REFLECT, RESPOND, And sometimes this response is no response at all.

• You question your habits and patterns, and make choices that align with your true self. I realised that i spent MANY MANY hours of life worrying - my goal was simple 1, Give my daughter the family life I never had 2. Succeed in my career and 3. Stay 'fit and healthy'. These three goals shaped my life in every way - but led to unconscious habits and patterns that transpired to be coping mechanisms, I was the definition of the term ' burn the candle at both ends' but i now realise my entire personal life outside of work was kept busy by these habits and patterns. The reality is, because i kept myself so busy, i never questioned who my true self was. I was a product of society working up the corporate ladder, attempting to get that 'perfect' family life while 'looking' healthy. None of those things brought me peace... hence burnout.

• You start to notice the world around you: the breeze, your breath, your emotions, the people you love. I'll never forget when i was off on long-term sick with burnout, and i was driving to collect my daughter on the 3 hour road trip from Lincoln. Whilst driving up the A1 i noticed the sky in a way that i'd never been able to appreciate it before. It caught my breath and brought tears to my eyes. It was in that moment that i realised i was living life all wrong, that there are so many small things we can treasure that we take for granted, and i remmeber thinking i don't want to lose this feeling. That was about 3 months into long term sick leave... THREE MONTHS. And it was just a glimmer, the opposite of a trigger. A little moment of hope of what my life could be like if i just managed to live more consciously.

  
  

It doesn’t mean being perfect or being “spiritual” all the time. It means noticing when you’re drifting off and gently returning to presence. Over and over again. The more we do this, you guessed right, the more natural it becomes.

Living consciously is like turning the lights on in your life. Suddenly, things that once seemed mundane become meaningful. You're no longer just existing — you're living. Every. Single. Moment.

2. Why Conscious Living Leads to a More Fulfilled Life

Fulfillment doesn't come from having more — it comes from feeling more. And conscious living allows you to actually feel your life. Here's the thing about feeling in our society, we are trained to do the opposite. Have you ever had these words in your mind ' DO NOT CRY whatever you do, put on a brave face, dont be weak', 'Don't show them how hurt you are, it's what they want', 'Don't tell that colleague what you really think about their toxic behaviour, just take it and be professional', 'Don't say what you really think or they will turn against you'... You get the vibe... lots of 'don’ts'. Guess what though, our emotions are a sacred insight into whats going on inside and ALL are valid. The reality is, every scenario i mentioed above, had i expressed my authentic emotions, there absoloutely would have been repercussions. But i have learnt that those environments are toxic, whether it's work, friendships or family - if you can't express your emotional needs without fear of backlash, it's a strong sign that they do not align with your 'true self'. Sounds scary, but it's true. There is a world out there , and opportunites and connections out there that will absolutely value you and your emotions. It doesn't always mean those situations are toxic, but just not for you. And that's ok.

Here’s how conscious living nurtures fulfillment:

• Clarity: When you slow down and tune in, you begin to understand what really matters to you — not what you’ve been conditioned to chase. This starts off as tiny glimmers like my sky appreciation, and then grows into the most beautiful path laid ahead of you. Clarity doesn't mean you know where that path takes you, but gives the feels to know that this is right. Trust in the process.

• Alignment: You begin to make choices that reflect your values, passions, and truth. Life feels less scattered and more purposeful. Hello boundaries. The more aligned you feel, the more you are able to stop saying yes when you mean no. This is an important step. The more aligned we become, the more we can look after ourselves. Choosing ourseves can feel uncomfortable, but the more you practice this, the more likely you'll be able to do so in those more challenging circumstances. A student this week was having a bad day and had lots to get done so might not make it to yoga. I was of course understanding but gently reminded them that their wellbeing is also important and that when we feel stressed we can sometimes revert to older programmming where we are last on the priority list. They came to class, loved it and thanked me for the reminder. It was beautiful.

• Connection: Conscious awareness deepens your relationships — with yourself, others, and life itself. You listen more deeply. You love more intentionally. We don't just love who we think we should love, we love those who value us and who reciprocate our values. It's bloody lovely. Who knew that choosing yourself and deepening your connection with yourself could result in the most glorious connections to the world in general and others. Universal law baby - be the energy you want to see and the universe rewards you! Its all energy.

• Peace: You're less tossed around by your thoughts and emotions. You learn to observe rather than absorb everything that comes your way. For my fellow empaths - this is a biggy. Even if you aren't a 'feeling' person or you don't cosifer yourself an empath, energy trasnfer is real. Pay attention to how situations make you feel... do i feel refreshed or drained afterwards? Energy never lies.

  
  

Most importantly, conscious living brings you into the now. And fulfillment can only be found here — not in the past or the future, but in this breath, this moment.

3. The Role of Yoga in Conscious Living

Yoga is far more than physical postures. It is, at its core, a practice of awareness. I honestly didn't know what awareness was until i practised yga. I thought i was my thoughts, in fact i thought my thoughts were my soul. That's probably why i was so attached to them and took every single one of them to heart.

On the mat, yoga teaches us awareness in some simple ways:

• Feel our breath.

• Observe the sensations in the body.

• Notice when the mind wanders and gently bring it back.

• Sit with discomfort rather than escape it. (as i regularly remind you in chair pose wink wink).

  
  

In this way, yoga becomes a training ground for conscious living. What we practice on the mat — patience, presence, acceptance, intention — begins to show up in our everyday life.

Yoga also offers philosophical foundations for conscious living through the Yamas and Niyamas. Both ethical principles from the ancient yogic text The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, written over 2,000 years ago. These teachings form the foundation of the 8 Limbs of Yoga — a path to personal growth, spiritual awareness, and inner freedom.

Some of these are :

• Ahimsa (non-violence): Cultivating compassion for self and others.

• Svadhyaya (self-study): Looking inward with curiosity and honesty.

• Santosha (contentment): Finding peace in the present, regardless of circumstances.

• Ishvarapranidhana (surrender): Letting go of the illusion of control.

  
  

Yoga gently dissolves the layers of distraction and disconnection, guiding us back to our essence — our awareness. And from that space, we begin to live, move, and choose more consciously. It can start on the mat in these simple foundations and then blossom into your every day life. It truly is remarkable

4. How to Start Living More Consciously Today

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight to live more consciously. Start small. For those already attending classes you are already on the conscious ath. But her are a few small ways to start :

• Pause and breathe: Take 3 deep breaths before your morning coffee or before answering a message. Let breath be your anchor.

• Mindful movement: Even 10 minutes of yoga a day can shift your energy and awareness. This doesn't have to be yoga - walking up and down the stairs, walking to work or even taking the dogs out. Be present with what your body is doing and how it feels.

• Journal with intention: Ask yourself, “What am I feeling? What do I need? What do I want to create today?”

• Unplug: Spend some time each day away from screens. Let yourself be without consuming. If this feels uncomfortable then listen to that discomfort. Looking back in hind sight to when i tried yog many years ago..all i felt weas discomfort. This is a huge flag sign posting you to do more of it. If only i'd have known that thed feeling of discomfort was me actually struggling to feel everything within. I had built so many coping mechanisms that i didn't even know there was stuff to feel. Our minds are clever and so are our bodies. The first step is to embrace the discomfort, and fight the urge to ignore it.

• Notice: Pay attention to the little things — the taste of your food, the sound of leaves, the tone of your voice.

  
  

Just remmeber that conscious living is not about being hyper-aware 24/7 - it’s about remembering to come home to yourself again and again. Just like in class how you are regulalry encouraged to bring your awarness back to your breath, or to the bodily sensations - start to try to do it at home, at work , wherever you darn well wish. The more you do it, the more aligned to yourself, your bodies needs and your true authentic self you'll become.

Living consciously is a practice, not a destination. It’s not about doing more, but being more present with whatever you’re doing. Yoga offers us a path to that presence — through the body, the breath, and the stillness in between. When you live with awareness, life becomes more vibrant. You feel more connected, more grounded, more alive. You realize that fulfillment isn’t something you chase — it’s something you awaken to.

So take a breath. Slow down. Choose to be here — fully.

Because this moment is your life. And it’s worth living consciously.

I hope that resonated with some of you and if not, well... thanks for reading lol.

Big love ,

Jade

xxx