How Yoga Helps Me Navigate Life as a Sensitive Person

Being an Empath means I deeply feel the emotions and energy of others, often without them saying a word.

If you too are an Empath, you’ll know exactly where I’m coming from there.

As I’m sure it is for you, I can walk into a room and pick up on tension, sadness, or even joy that isn’t mine, which can affect me in weird and wonderful ways.

That’s where yoga comes in.

When I first started practicing yoga, it was all about the physical side: getting the poses right, building strength, and maybe even hoping for a more sculpted body. But over time, yoga became something much deeper. Now, it’s so much less about how I look and more about how I feel. It’s a space where I return to myself.

The movement, the stillness, the breath, it all gives me a safe place to let go of what isn’t mine and reconnect with who I am. It also is a place to recharge my energy. And that’s without the benefits of the physical postures.

Breathwork, or pranayama, has become my go-to tool for clearing emotional clutter and calming my nervous system.

When my thoughts are spinning or my emotions feel tangled, my breath brings me back to centre. It grounds me. It reminds me what peace feels like. With every inhale and exhale, I create space between feeling everything and being consumed by it.

The physical side of yoga, the poses or asanas, also plays a big role. They help me release energy I’ve unintentionally absorbed and bring me back to me.

Some days I notice I’m carrying tension in my shoulders or a weight in my solar plexus. Moving through poses helps me shake that off, physically and emotionally.

But that’s not all. It can offer up so many benefits to my body and mind, not just in the perspective of being Sensitive.

Meditation, too, has always been essential, even though I sometimes dip in and out of practice. It’s like pressing a reset button and it teaches me so much.

Meditation gives me the space to hear my own voice again, to notice what’s mine and gently release what isn’t.

When I practice in the morning, whether it’s stretching, meditating, or simply breathing deeply, I feel the slow unfurling of my own energy.

Physically, it’s like my body is waking up in harmony with the light. Muscles that hold the weight of yesterday begin to soften, and with each movement, I release more than just tension, I release the emotions I’ve absorbed. Mentally, it’s even more powerful. My thoughts feel clearer, my intuition stronger, and there’s an undeniable spaciousness in my mind. The morning gives me room to prepare not just for the day, but for the emotions I’ll inevitably encounter.

This time becomes a sacred ritual. It’s where I set the tone for how I want to show up: grounded, open-hearted, and resilient. Practising in the morning doesn’t just loosen my muscles or free my mind, it anchors me.

Yoga doesn’t take away my Sensitivity, instead, it helps me stay whole. It strengthens my inner awareness, helps me create healthy boundaries, and lets me show up in the world without getting lost in it.

To other Empaths reading this: If you feel like you’re constantly carrying too much, yoga may not fix everything, but it can help you feel yourself.