The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us! For many it is an exciting time of year of festivities, family, and travel. But the holiday season can also leave us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, with so much to do and it always seems with so little time. When we are faced with busier schedules, often the first thing fall by the wayside is our own self care. How often do you hear yourself saying, “I don’t have time to practice.”
The times that we perceive we have no time to practice, are the moments we need our practice even more.
As we know, practicing yoga poses creates space in our body and space for the breath. This same space is also created in our mind and heart. We stop off of the mat or mediation cushion with greater clarity, a sense of ease, and sense of spaciousness.
Not only is our capacity to handle stress expanded, but also our ability to see new solutions to challenges that arise.
Our practice allows us to create space in our lives where we otherwise might feel there is none. This is wisdom that takes time to understand. For so long, I struggled with how to find enough time to get everything done and generally feeling that no matter how hard I tried, there was never enough time. But time is only an illusion – the only time there ever is, is now.
The better our self care is NOW, the better our ability to show up in life. We are able to step into a more easeful flow, and learn that what needs to get done will get done; in its own divine and right timing.
By this premise, taking the time for self care is non-negotiable.
In BKS Iyengar’s book ‘The Tree of Yoga’ he writes,
“You are a beginner in yoga. I too am a beginner from where I left my practice yesterday. I don’t bring yesterday’s poses to today’s practice. I know yesterday’s poses, but when I practice today I become a beginner. I don’t want yesterday’s experience. I want to see what new understanding may come in addition to what I had felt up to now”
For me this not only reinforces my desire to continue to learn and to be open, but it serves also as a reminder to live NOW. This comes only from practice; clarity of the mind, ease in the body, and openness of the heart.
So, NOW my friends. NOW is the best time and the only time for practice.
See you on the mat.
With love and light,
Laura McKinnon
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