Do the Best You Can Until You Know Better

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." — Maya Angelou

I’ve always loved this quote by Maya Angelou. It’s simple yet profound, and it resonates deeply with the journey of life—and yoga. Every time I read it, I’m reminded of how important it is to be gentle with ourselves, especially as we navigate the ups and downs of growth, both on and off the mat.

Reflecting on My Own Path

When I started practicing yoga, I often felt the pressure to "get it right." I wanted to master the postures, breathe perfectly, and understand everything quickly. But yoga, like life, is a process. Over the years, I’ve learned that we can only act from the level of understanding we have in the moment. Looking back, there are things I could have done differently, but I also recognize that I was doing the best I could at the time. This realization has brought me so much peace.

Angelou’s words remind me to have compassion for myself and others. We’re all doing the best we can with the knowledge we have. As we grow and gain new insights, whether through our practice, our experiences, or even our mistakes, we get the opportunity to make better choices moving forward.

A Lesson in Self-Compassion

One thing I often tell my students is that yoga isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. I see so many of them, just like I used to, being hard on themselves when they can’t quite find the balance in a posture or when their breath feels shallow. But here’s the thing: we’re always evolving. The body changes, the mind changes, and what we know changes.

This quote from Maya Angelou speaks directly to that. It tells us to do our best today, with whatever we have. Then, as we learn and grow, we can adjust, refine, and do better tomorrow. It’s a reminder to approach life—and yoga—with patience, and to honor where we are in the moment.

Yoga as a Mirror for Life

Yoga has taught me so much about this. There have been days on the mat where I’ve struggled, where I’ve pushed too hard, or not enough. There have been times when I’ve looked back and wished I had listened more closely to my body or given myself more space to rest. But each of these moments was an opportunity to learn, and with that learning came growth.

The same is true in life. We might look back and wish we’d handled a situation differently, or feel regret for not taking a chance. But Angelou’s words remind us that regret doesn’t serve us. What serves us is the lesson we take from the experience—the new understanding that helps us do better next time.

The Power of Small Steps

Whether it’s in yoga or life, growth doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a series of small steps, small realizations. Every time we step onto the mat, we are different from the last time. Every breath, every movement is an opportunity to listen more deeply and learn more about ourselves. When we know better, we naturally move and live more wisely, with greater ease.

So, as we start this week, let’s carry Angelou’s words with us. Let’s do the best we can with what we know today, and when we learn more, we’ll embrace the chance to do better. We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to keep showing up, trusting the process, and being open to growth—both on the mat and in life.

This version brings in your personal journey with yoga, offering your students and readers a more intimate, relatable perspective. It reflects how the quote resonates with your own experience and how you integrate that wisdom into both your practice and teaching.