Embracing Inner Strength: A Journey Through Core, Courage, and Connection

When we work into the core, it’s more than just physical exercise. It’s an invitation to connect to our innermost self and build strength in a way that radiates through our entire being. For so many of us, the journey inward can feel daunting—after all, we’re not only working with muscle and bone; we’re tapping into the well of our own internal resilience and courage.

Most people walk around with tight hips and a locked-up core. And while this can be uncomfortable physically, it also mirrors an internal struggle—our disconnect from the core of who we are, the seat of our inner strength and confidence. This is why, in our yoga practice, we give such attention to the core and the hips: we’re not just loosening tight muscles; we’re loosening our connection to fear and strengthening our relationship with courage.

Rediscovering Strength in Action and Acceptance

We often grow up thinking strength is something a few lucky ones are born with. We look around and label people “strong” or “weak” based on outward characteristics, not realizing that strength is within all of us. This is our birthright, but to access it, we need to nurture it with brave and mindful choices. Strength isn’t just a physical quality—it’s a lived experience, cultivated through action and through the willingness to lean into life’s challenges.

Building strength means taking courageous steps, especially when fear stands in the way. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward in the face of it, trusting that each step makes us a bit stronger, a bit bolder. This journey isn’t about pushing through with force but about choosing love over fear again and again, an idea central to both Tantric and A Course in Miracles teachings.

The Fear Illusion: Moving Beyond Limiting Beliefs

In A Course in Miracles, we’re taught that only love is real and that fear is simply a distortion, an illusion we create. But it’s an illusion that feels all too real, isn’t it? For most of us, fear shows up in small and big ways—fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of change. But it’s that willingness to take bold steps, even with fear trailing us, that dissolves these illusions and connects us to a deep-seated confidence.

As we strengthen our core, both physically and metaphorically, we’re cultivating that inner resilience. This kind of core work requires us to breathe deeply and connect with each breath, trusting in our body’s rhythm, trusting in life’s flow, and trusting in our ability to handle whatever unfolds.

Anchoring Into True Power: The Breath as Our Guide

There’s a beautiful connection between the breath and our core strength. When we anchor into our breath, we’re learning to trust the natural rise and fall, the rhythms that sustain us. And with each exhale, we’re invited to let go—to release the need for control and surrender to the present moment.

We come into a pose, we breathe, and we find our balance in the space between control and surrender. This is where the core is strengthened: not in force, but in allowing. As we learn to breathe into and support this internal space, it supports us in return. It’s a connection that runs both ways, a mutual relationship that guides us through life with grace and courage.

Choosing to Live Boldly: Walking the Path of Strength

True strength isn’t measured by how much we can lift or how far we can push ourselves. It’s about the courage to step forward, time and time again, into the unknown, into our fears. Each step we take toward that internal strength reinforces our own resilience, our own power to live life fully. And the more we walk this path, the more it becomes second nature. We become anchored in our own inner strength, moving through life with grace and confidence, knowing that whatever arises, we have the courage to meet it.

Let this be a reminder: as you breathe in, connect with that internal strength. And as you breathe out, release any need to control the outcome. Know that strength is not just found in muscles or poses—it’s the courage to lean into life, boldly and bravely, time and time again.