The term “alignment” is used so often in the wellness/self-help community, that it can leave us wondering: what does “being in alignment” actually mean?

It came to me the other day that alignment is just relaxation. It is ease. It is total acceptance and allowance of the Now.

This means we don’t need to wait until 5pm or until our yoga class or until we get a good night’s sleep to feel aligned.

Alignment is just a breath away.

When we breathe, we relax. Our nervous system relaxes. We stop overthinking, wishing we felt differently, wishing our circumstances were different. We are open and allowing of whatever is present for us in the now.

To say we’re “misaligned” or “out of alignment” usually just means we are resistant to the present moment. Maybe we are overthinking, or we are judging ourselves for how we’re feeling, or we are avoiding our feelings completely. Perhaps our minds are rolling around in the future while our bodies are in the now.

Now, it doesn’t mean we don’t do the things that will help us feel good, and make “alignment” a more consistent state of being. It just means we stop giving so much power away to our future.

So, yes, do your yoga and meditate and get enough sleep.

And, if you don’t?

Breathe.

Alignment is just a breath away.