The Reward is the Journey

I have flirted with many.  I have dipped my toe in, and tested them for size.  But this weekend, I met my match. I have, I think, found a style of yoga that really speaks to me.  And, even better, I have found my tribe.  I spent this weekend, surrounded by others who speak my language:  Ours is the language of xi, fascia, meridians and Sanskrit.   Yin prioritises function over aesthetics.  It is about the HOW rather than the WHAT.  And this is why I have fallen in love.   I am never going to be super bendy.  I have plenty of strength, and whilst I will, if I continue to practice regularly, develop greater flexibility I need to acknowledge my mechanical limitations.  These are non-negotiable.  They are, after all, part of my genetic inheritance:  I was not born to bendy folk.   But within those limitations, I can still achieve a perfect practice.  For this is where the subtle but all important...

Sybille is a terrific yoga teacher.  I was terrifically pleased to have booked to attend her workshop.  It really was a terrific place for me to be.   My hips and hamstrings always benefit from some focused attention.  All too often I forget how much gets held onto in this region of the body.   Sybille gently helped me to remember the importance of finding space in the stillness.  By bringing my body into stillness, I am able to find the space between thoughts.  

I was reminded once again how easy it is to let go of a habit. Not because you're trying to change it, but because your routine changes. My routines are the foundations of those habits I seek to promote.  Time is precious.  And mine, like most other people's, is limited.  Which is why, if I want to do something, I have to find the time to do it in. Which is where my diary comes in.  If it's in the diary, the chances it will actually happen are far higher.  And that's due to the simple fact that, for something to appear in the diary, it means that time has been allocated. When our routines stop, no matter how briefly, significant change can result.  Which may be good.  Or, in the case of my yoga practice, less good...  I find myself feeling stiffer:  physically, and psychologically. It is time to re-start, and re-acquaint with my mat.  And the first step is to let go of any frustration associated with the fact that I ...