I have written about becoming flexible in the aspects of the physical body and the mental body. But lately I have been thinking more about how to find time to do the things you love and enjoy them without worrying about fitting them into a busy schedule. The reason that I have become sensitive to this particular topic is because I have had some difficulty recently, fitting in my practice time with all of the festivities of the season. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with those I hold dear, but it doesn’t change the fact that my daily rituals of life are affected. I have become accustomed to doing evening practices and hav even perfected the amount of time needed after eating to ensure they are successful. I have actually grown to appreciate the different aspects that an evening practice can offer such as increased strength and flexibility. I do find that sometimes evening practices are marred by racing thoughts but there are no (for the most part) interruptions from my little babes who are sleeping. I suppose there are pros and cons to any time. I have practiced in hotel rooms, hotel gyms and in my bedroom over the last couple of weeks. While none of them are my ideal spot, there were benefits in some cases! In one hotel room, there was a gas fireplace and it got really nice and toasty! I most definitely appreciated that with all the frigid temps we’ve been having lately. The gym spot was not as good, with people working out around me and a low ceiling, it was distracting. But I was able to fit it in!! My gym practice was at 8:30pm, so as a natural morning person, some adaptation is required, lol. What I found a couple of days was that I got half a practice done in the morning and then finished it up in the evening! Seriously, sometimes it’s necessary to become inventive in how to get things done.
The main point of importance during this time was that, even though I had to be even more mentally flexible with my schedule, I was able to succeed in getting some type of practice in. Sometimes it was just primary series and other days I could fit in my entire 1hr 45 min practice in. More and more, the emphasis has become getting some part of a practice in, rather than how much of it gets done. For me, this has taken time to get used to. I’ve had a few years to slowly get comfortable with the need for my increased necessity for mental flexibility as having children already got those wheels turning!
It can be demotivating to have to make changes to fit practice in but over time it really becomes a test as to how badly I really want to do something. Yoga is like breathing to me and since I’d like to stay alive, I suppose I will keep on working it in wherever it is possible!! Hope you we’re able to find time to take care of yourself over the holidays. Looking forward to the regular rhythm of life this week. All the very best until next week, be happy, smile and be you💖
Much Love,
Lisa Michelle xo
