Seasonal Dysfunction
Officially, winter it may be, and I’m officially freezing, but some of us still have kaftans and overpriced, hand crafted, Greek slides (free shipping yet a trillion US dollars worth of taxes and tariffs) in their shopping trolleys as they continue to peruse new summer arrivals online. For work.
All this cold and confusion, and I professionally include trans-seasonal yoga wear in the mix, makes some of us feel extremely out of sorts.
Obviously I’m not a doctor. At least not an absolutely certified one* but seasonal changes make me feel more dysfunctional than usual and sometimes self-prescribed remedies of dark chocolate, polenta chips and Netflix binges are the only solution.
A few things going on around here: certainly not binge-worthy and maybe barely noticeable if you were feeling ungenerous. I think it’s called life.
Slow down (or other terms that strike my racing, over-stimulated heart with arrows of panic)
While pretty much everything and everyone in the yoga and wellness community is an advocate of a slow, purposeful, clutter-free lifestyle and headspace, sometimes the screeds of advice I come across creates the same kind of stress for me as a busy, full-on life. I feel like I’m failing if my only relationship with slowing down is reading about it via Instagram. Because sometimes life IS fast, furious and messy, not from making bad choices or not managing our time well, but because it just is. At least sometimes.
So I’ve been trying to ride these waves out, not holding it all up in my chest, (which I obviously do because how many people tell me to breathe?! On the mat, off the mat, all I hear at the moment is breathe! There’s some stress right there, people!) knowing I can always pause and whisper to myself that this moment right now, this is what I’ve been working towards and it might just be a beautiful big mess and nothing more.
I’ll either relate or not to all the inspirational articles and posts advising me to be in the moment, to be present, to donate all my clothes, and if anything resonates I’ll let it sit where it needs to till we can connect like the like-minded friends we’re meant to be.
And I AM breathing.
Yoga-ing outside of downward dog
On that note, I had my first experience of Restorative Yoga at a workshop recently where not only was I tucked in with layers of blankets and my limbs arranged with supportive props, I learnt that savasana was a whole lot more than two minutes of shut-eye at the end of class. Savasana should be where you “do nothing and then have a rest”. That’s right, I can quote that. Oh yes.
Along with getting on my Shakti mat most nights I’ve been attending an early meditation class once a week to learn some tools and techniques for my home practice. You’d think my zen-o-meter would be off the scale. Well, it’s not. But rest assured, when it is you’ll hear about it. Something to look forward to at the next gathering, family and friends. Already I see that panicked look in your eyes as you race for the nearest exit.
Tinder for yogis. Thoughts?
Although any of my previous attempts at matchmaking have been abysmal I like to keep an optimistic approach to meddling in other people’s lives and as my back-up profession I’m thinking this could be it. I’ve had quite a few chats now with all (some of) the single yogis who are looking for a like-minded partner. (And this relates only to those who are, so back off all ye who think everyone wants to partner on up and procreate!) Having swiped right and left many times on a friend’s Tinder account (who shall remain anonymous only because he doesn’t know I did it) I can categorically say it’s a small town we live in no matter how far you’re willing to travel. But these yogi people! These yogis are gorgeous! GORGEOUS! And lovely and funny and intelligent and, well, bendy. I mean.
Fast track conversations
The more I engage with the yoga community the more I’m amazed at what comes out of my mouth. I so often seem to fall hard and fast into boldly honest, sometimes extremely personal conversations that bring an authenticity to how we deal with each other. I like to think I know when not to over-share but if I’ve got it wrong, ah, sorry about that.
Some of that beautiful openness relates to age, which I touched on here, and some of it, I think, goes hand and hand with yoga. Meaning there’s hope for those of us finding ourselves a little later than others. Ultimately a kinder, softer world-view happens on the mat, don’t you think?
In the wake of Orlando that might seem more than rose-tinted but without fail love rises and shows itself again and again. I’m a big believer in the old love thing.
To blitz or not to blitz
I’m not a really a smoothie-for-breakfast person. I want to be a smoothie-for-breakfast person. I see all the pics of gorgeous breakfast bowls and overflowing jars and think, yes. I order similar gorgeous breakfast bowls and overflowing jars in cafes and think, yum. Then I get home and eat porridge. It’s the blitzing. All that food disappearing through a glass straw or heaped onto a vintage spoon turns into a step too far. I just can’t reconcile drinking a meal. Bit of a work in nutritional progress, me.
The power of no
I watched some little children dancing the other day and was struck by the beauty in their free movement. Nothing was choreographed or set up. It was all arms flailing, twirling and whirling with hot cheeks, layers of dress-ups and a sense of their bodies that I strive to recapture in my yoga practice.
Except for one. She was sitting off to the side quietly watching, smiling and holding on very tightly to her toy. When she was invited to join in by other parents, she said no. Quietly but firmly, just no.
I’m channelling her.
In class we’re often encouraged to say yes; to life, to exploration, to going beyond our edge. And sometimes you just need to say no. It’s ok to not be part of the dance, to sit it out.
I’ve got a niggling shoulder injury that I keep halfway doing what I’ve been told to do, making deals with myself (did I mention my medical background…) but really the power is in saying no. No to pushing through postures because everyone else is and I don’t want to be seen to not be working hard enough, no to that attention-seeking ego wanting to be front and centre. Just no.
(Please remind me of this if you see me in class.)
Have a great weekend! Or not! Up to you, no pressure.
Love to know your thoughts on slowing down, drinking your breakfast and saying no. And if you want me to Tinderise your yogi world, call me!
– Jane x
*Okay, not at all. But I’m sure I’ve googled enough to at least be a med student.**
**My daughter has just kindly told me that I am far too old to even pretend to be a med student. So no free consultations for her then.
© The Yoga Connection 2016