27/50 Just Say No, Kids

1. Don’t hurt your knees so the new guy next to you thinks you’re awesome

Such a gorgeous vinyasa class this morning with lots of flows and surprises. There was a fair bit of balancing on our knees and rocking forward over them. Never a favourite of mine anyway, I’d not brought a blanket to the mat, but still went full into the pose.

Of course I did.

If anyone ever gives me the opportunity to talk to them about yoga and they come out with the oft quoted, ‘but I’m not flexible enough’ apart from swallowing an enormous amount of … words, I do emphasise that if all you remember is to never, NEVER, do anything in class that hurts you, all will be well.

I know I’m not a teacher. Keep your beads on. I’m only repeating what great teachers always remind us in class. Which I nod along to like a great student and then nine times out of ten ignore.

I’d like to tilt my head to the side and wonder why, but I know it’s ever so slightly possible that it has to do with ego: To prove that I can push through the pain (oh, the pain! oh, the injuries! oh, I’m an idiot!) effortlessly like a pro.

Except it’s not what a seasoned, smart yogi would do. I see teachers all the time take a child’s pose or downward dog. And I’ve learnt, the hard way, to mostly do this. Except when I don’t.

Baby steps, baby steps.

2. If you’re a woman, sit in the front seat

It’s always bothered me that when there’s a car ride with more than two people and there’s a man, the man always seems to get the front passenger seat.

I’m not generalising here, just observing, from friends and family, to strangers on the motorway (I like to point out my findings to my husband which he very much enjoys) and I try and make a point of encouraging any women into the front seat.

Apparently once you’re over the age of 10, it’s not socially acceptable to call it or, alas, shove anyone out the way. Apparently.

Let’s change it up. It reminds me of old-school times with women in the kitchen cleaning up and the men retiring to the sofa to chat.

That’s a no.

3. Can you snowboard?

If you were ever invited to the mountains on a glam date trip in 1990 and then asked if you snowboard, you might accidentally have said, yes.

Not a good idea, as you’ll spend the entire trip faking an illness and having to sneak out of the room for emergency coffees and snacks which will eventually include handfuls of mints from the reception desk when you break the vending machine. You might have to resort to pretending to throw up in the bathroom that will actually make you gag, as it’s quite a disgusting thing to do.

You will barely touch the snow.

Whatever it is that you don’t do when asked if you do do, just say no, kids.

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Anything you need to say no to?
Easier said than done, sometimes…

Photo by Mattias Olsson

PS. I would love it if you took a moment to vote for me in the Weleda Global Garden Competition. It’s an awesome opportunity and I need to be in the top six to be considered for the first step. This is something you DON’T say no to, kids! Hehe. X
https://www.weledaglobalgarden.com/nzl/candidate/2316

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© The Yoga Connection 2017