You Are Enough: How I Found My Voice in Yoga by Letting Go of Imitation

Why Trying to Be Someone Else Doesn’t Work (Even If They’re Amazing)

I was listening to The Spirit Mind Living Podcast recently, and something Jeffrey said struck a deep chord. He mentioned that “the quickest way to lose our center is trying to be like someone else.” I paused the episode and just sat there, letting those words sink in.

Because, wow—have I lived that truth.

It took me back to a very specific time in my life. Actually, more than one.

First, it was during my dancing days. I remember looking up to other dancers—people who seemed to effortlessly embody grace, strength, and poise. I’d study them obsessively. Watch how they moved, how they held themselves, even how they walked into a room. I thought if I could just do it exactly like them, I’d finally feel good enough.

And then it happened again when I started teaching yoga. This one felt sneakier. I didn’t realize right away that I was doing it. I was so inspired by my teacher—how she spoke, how she moved, how she held space for people. I admired her so much that I tried to be just like her. I mimicked her cues, her pacing, even her tone of voice.

It wasn’t intentional. It came from a place of deep respect and admiration. But it also came from fear. A fear that me being “just me” wouldn’t be enough.

The Truth About Finding Your Voice: It’s a Practice, Too

The turning point came quietly, without fanfare.

One day in class, I stumbled over a cue because I was trying to say something the way my teacher would say it—but it didn’t land. It felt forced. Not me. After class, someone came up to me and said, “You know, when you said that one thing in your own words… I really felt it. That was powerful.”

Wait—my words?

That was the moment I realized: people don’t come to my classes to hear my best impersonation of someone else. They come to experience connection. And connection can only happen when we’re being real.

So I began experimenting. Little by little, I started teaching more like myself. I used my natural voice. I stopped overthinking my cues and just spoke from the heart. I shared stories and laughed more. I leaned into my own rhythm.

And let me tell you something incredible happened:

That’s when my teaching career took off.

When I stopped trying to sound like my teacher and started trusting my own voice, everything changed. Classes felt more alive. Students connected more deeply. I felt freer. Lighter. And, dare I say it—more powerful.

The Cost of Comparison

I think many of us fall into this pattern of imitation because we’re afraid.

We’re afraid we don’t measure up. We believe the lie that someone else’s version of success is the only version. That their voice is the right voice. Their method is the only method. Their energy is what people want.

And so, we start to shape-shift. We soften our natural edges. We water down our personality. We mimic tones, words, even gestures that don’t belong to us.

And here’s the kicker: it doesn’t work. At least, not for long.

Because it’s not sustainable. It’s not nourishing. And most importantly, it’s not you.

When we try to be someone else, we disconnect from our center. We lose our spark. We lose our creativity. We lose the chance to offer the world the very thing it’s craving: our authentic selves.

Being Real Is Scary… But It’s Worth It

Here’s the truth: authenticity takes courage.

It’s easier, in some ways, to hide behind someone else’s voice. To borrow someone else’s confidence. But the magic happens when you bring your full self to the mat—or to whatever stage, space, or moment you’re standing in.

It’s not about being the loudest. Or the most polished. It’s about being real.

In yoga, we talk a lot about the idea of Satya—truthfulness. But Satya isn’t just about not lying. It’s about living in a way that’s true to your nature. Speaking from your heart. Trusting your unique path, even if it looks different from everyone else’s.

Because it will. And it should.

Lessons From the Mat (and Life)

The mat has taught me many things over the years, but one of the biggest is this:

You are already enough.

You don’t have to perform. You don’t have to perfect. You just have to be present.

That lesson didn’t come easily. It came through years of peeling back layers of doubt, comparison, and fear. It came through missteps and awkward classes and “off” days when I wondered if I was cut out for this at all.

But every time I showed up, even imperfectly, I came a little closer to myself.

And now, I teach from that place.

From me. Not from my teacher, or someone I admire on Instagram, or the script I think I should follow. Just… me.

And somehow, beautifully, that’s more than enough.

What If You’re Just Right as You Are?

So let me ask you a question:

What if you don’t need to be anyone else?

What if your voice, your style, your energy—is exactly what someone out there needs?

What if you being you is the most generous thing you could offer?

If you’ve ever struggled with comparison or imposter syndrome—if you’ve ever doubted your own voice—I hope you know this:

You’re not alone.

And also: you don’t have to stay stuck there.

The work of finding your voice—whether in teaching, in movement, in creativity, or just in life—is ongoing. It’s a practice, just like yoga. One breath at a time. One choice at a time. One brave step toward your own truth.

There’s Nothing Missing

I’ll leave you with this.

You don’t need to earn your worthiness.

You don’t have to copy someone else to be valuable.

You don’t need to fix or polish or prove yourself.

You just have to show up as you—in all your quirky, beautiful, honest humanity.

That’s the you people are drawn to. That’s the voice we’re waiting to hear. That’s where your power lives.

So go ahead—teach from your heart. Speak in your voice. Live in your truth.

You’re enough. Right now. As you are.