Did that statement blow your mind? Not yet? Well, don’t worry it will.
Early yesterday morning (and we’re talking 7am), I got up for a workshop about finding your ideal self on your yoga mat – I would drop the instructor’s name, but I’ve done that so many times you’ll begin to think I’m stalking her… Ok fine, Amy Steiner from Green Monkey.
Anyway, what came up through the discussion prompted by this workshop was how who you are on your mat is a direct reflection of who you are in your life. Now, don’t get too attached to that statement I’m not condemning you as sucking at your life if your heels don’t touch the ground in downward facing dog.
What I am saying is that if you allow that small detail to frustrate you on your mat more than likely you’ll let small details in your day-to-day life frustrate you too. What if you allow your yoga mat to be a place for you to work on that issue – and then you get better at accepting those otherwise frustrating details in the rest of your day?
When I was visiting my sister in NYC (my soon to be new home!), a woman got super irritated with me on the subway escalator because we weren’t making room for her to walk past. While I accept that I was acting like a brainless tourist she gave me this look and then proceeded to lecture me on subway etiquet as she cruised on by. Granted, she was pregnant and probably had to pee – but come on lady, did me being in her way for exactly 2 seconds really ruin her day? From the look on her face – yes it did.
As a certified instructor I would like to prescribe her one easy-does-it prenatal yoga class 2 times a week to take a closer look at how she’s handling being with child.
What’s my point? Sorry for the tangent, but my point is this:
When you step onto your yoga mat it’s an opportunity to take that one isolated practice and change your life with it. If you are competitive, set that aside; if you’re aloof try a little harder; if you’re a reactive person take a moment to really just accept what’s happening for you in each pose without judging it or reacting to it. The yoga mat is the perfect place to work out all the issues that are going on not just in your hips and shoulders, but also in your mind. And the best part of using yoga as a mirror into the rest of your life is this: on your mat it’s only about you. You’re not bothering or effecting anyone else – you’re not depending on or worrying about your friends or your family… you’re doing the poses and working through the shit that you have to work through.
So, how are you going to show up on your yoga mat today? How are you going to practice? Might I suggest being in your downward facing dog the way you want to be in life?
Try it out!
XO
Heather C
I have found out so many interesting things about myself and life in relation to my yoga practice over the last year. I write about it often. Thanks for sharing your input!
I will try it and feel where I am next time I’m on my yoga mat.
Oh God, how true…when I was young, I punished myself with my yoga practice, believing it had to be perfect. No prizes for guessing what I did with life.
Now, most of the time, good enough is good enough. Mostly. It’s only taken ten years to get here…am a quick learner
Love your work, as always xx
This is so true- the kinder I am to myself in yoga class, the kinder I am to myself and others outside of it.
Well written and super true. Letting go in yoga and life provides new learning and growth. love your posts:)
Yoga makes me really fit and healthy. Aside from the relaxation benefits that i gained from yoga, it also helps me to become very relaxed and very focused in life. .”"`.