Some days you do your whole yoga practice, some days you only do sun salutations in your pyjamas.✨

I practice Ashtanga yoga and for those of you who may not be familiar with the practice, part of our tradition is to practice 6 days per week, with moon days off. You will often hear the familiar “see you tomorrow” in an Ashtanga yoga shala because we are ideally supposed to see each other every tomorrow! But sometimes life gets in the way. And sometimes a global pandemic gets in the way. 

 Self care and mental health

Pre-Covid, I would say that I’ve had many ups and downs in the consistency of my personal yoga practice. I have been practicing ashtanga yoga in Montreal since 2000, and in those 21 years I have had periods of time where I was a very consistent student, and I’ve had periods of time where I could barely get on the mat.  

Life happens - whether it’s an injury, work responsibilities, being busy with kids, assisting both parents through Alzheimer’s and end of life care, separation/divorce, or yes, a global pandemic. Indeed, life does happen.    

And now, during this global life challenge that is the Covid Pandemic, I have definitely experienced highs and lows in my practice. Ok... maybe more like lows and mid-highs. My practice has definitely not strived this past year in terms of moving ahead with postures. But I have learned so much about myself and about my practice. I’ve learned to adapt more than I have ever had to adapt in my life. Personally and professionally. And that’s ok. It’s part of the journey. It isn’t good, it’s isn’t bad, it just is. That way of thinking has helped me "weather the storm" of Covid. Rather than be reactive to everything as it came up - I would pause, take a few calm breaths and say to myself “that’s ok. This isn’t a bad thing. And it isn’t a good thing. It just IS.” And then deal with whatever the challenge of the moment was. A lot easier to deal with challenges as they come up in that way, rather than being emotionally reactive with each and every difficulty. It helps me also to not be too hard on myself even though my practice has not moved forward too much this year. It is what it is. And I am practicing. I am breathing, I am moving, I am connecting. 

Stepping on your yoga mat

One of my teachers, David Swensen, has a nice way of presenting how our practice can look different on different days. He suggested keeping your mat rolled up somewhere that you can see it every day. And every day do the following: roll out your mat, step on it, inhale, lift your arms overhead, exhale, fold forward - and then… see what happens next! Some days you will lift back up, roll up your mat, put it away and call it a day. Other days you will go on to do your whole practice. And then other days you’ll do something in between. One is not considered more of a practice than the other. I believe that it’s a western misconception about yoga. The thought that it has to be all or nothing. As long as you get on your mat, connect and be mindful of your breath and your bandhas, you have done a practice. And besides, in my experience, it very seldom ends with only the first inhale and exhale. Depending on the day, my practice can be 8 sun salutations, meditation and savasana OR my full hour and a half practice OR something in between those two extremes. So my sun salutations in my pyjamas IS a practice indeed! 

 I have definitely been guilty of skipping practice simply because I didn’t have a 90-minute block of time in my day to practice. Or I would only be able to practice in the afternoon or evening so I may as well not practice. Or I have a shoulder injury and I can’t do chaturanga, so I may as well skip my whole practice! I have had my share of injuries throughout the years and I've adapted my practice each time. I like to call injuries “reminders.” We usually injure ourselves because we are pushing ourselves past the point that where we know we need to stop. Or we are bypassing techniques that are there to help us practice safely, simply to achieve something. So the injury is not only a reminder, but it’s also a teacher - teaching us a lesson and bringing us back a few steps to relearn what we skipped over. I have learned from every injury I had. I still can’t do my full chaturanga yet, but that’s ok! Perhaps one day. Until then, I keep practicing and using other options when my shoulder is not cooperating.  

It's not about the yoga postures

Yoga is not best explored by trying to do the picture-perfect asanas (postures). Yoga is in the breath and the mindfulness that you layer each moment of your practice with. And yoga is ultimately how you go forth (off the mat!) and live your day with that mindfulness. I do of course see the many benefits of having a consistent practice and also the many beautiful benefits of pushing ourselves to do a full practice whenever we can. There is a lot of learning to be had there too. But there is also a beautiful benefit to listening to your body and also honouring your mental state during a challenging time. And allowing yourself to maybe just do sun salutations in your pyjamas some days and still call it a practice. Rather than eliminating your practice from your life, especially through the challenging times in your life. Modify your practice to fit your life at that moment. And the beautiful thing that will happen through that is that you will be able to navigate the complications you are facing with a clearer mind, an open heart and a more peaceful way of being. That has definitely been my experience. Everything goes better in my life when I make time for my practice. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity for creating life balance. 

A poet's inspiration: Amanda Gorman

As I am certain was the case for most of you, I was deeply moved by Amanda Gorman’s words at the 2021 Inauguration in the United States. And the following quote stood out to me: 

“For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it”. (The Hill we Climb)

So whatever your practice may be today, find your light in that practice and let it fill you. Let every cell of your body absorb that “light.” And then bring that beautiful energy into your day and into your life.

 Your turn...

• Do you also have practice avoiding tactics?  
• How do you modify your practice when you are feeling challenged by life?
• Share your thoughts in the comments below!