12/31/16: I typically think of New Year’s resolutions as something of a trap. They’re easy to make, but much harder to keep. Life can be disappointing enough without setting yourself up for failure based on the date.

Nonetheless, I thought perhaps posting about something aspirational wouldn’t be a bad way to end the year. These photos are from the inspired Instagram of yoga master Heidi Williams. A rape survivor, Williams hit rock bottom after a (happily) failed suicide attempt. She turned to yoga to help her deal with her mental issues which include PTSD, anxiety, and clinical depression.

“It was in this place of mental illness hell that I found yoga and grace. Yoga brought me to a safe place again. A place of peace and self-acceptance,” -Heidi Williams to MantraMag.com

Once she felt whole again, Williams turned to helping others overcome their emotional imbalance/mental illness challenges using her yoga. I think we could all use a bit more mental stability, and yoga is great for your body as well as your mind. Without setting myself up for yet another New Year’s resolution failure, I admit that Williams has inspired me to give yoga another try. 2017, here I come! Happy New Year, all!

All images the property of Heidi Williams.