Unraveling on the Mat

When practising yoga we have a choice to move our bodies in loving considerate ways and unravel what it is we have come with TODAY. Some days we will be carrying more than others but if we consistently unravel our knots we become more aware of what it is to be untangled. We eventually build up the capacity to give ourself this kindness of untangling more regularly and with consistency we build capacity. Perhaps with consistency we gain a new normal and learn to move towards untangling the next step of our process. Perhaps consistency means we show up more fully to the woes of our own hearts and become more capable to show up to the problems and hardships of others.

Think of your yoga practise like unravelling a tangled necklace. Each breathe and moment of awareness unravels a knot. These moments you give yourself on the mat unravel stagnant or blocked energy and maintain the vitality of your body. It’s like doing daily dishes. Each day, we know we must eat and part of that process is the care we put into tidying up and preparing our home for the next meal. We can resent the process or we can learn to be mindful and compassionate towards the whole journey. We can appreciate the warm water on our skin and the people present in our lives that we get to share and prepare food for. These are choices. Choices of perspective.

Maybe yoga isn’t your way of “untangling”— and that’s totally okay! I do know it’s been a beautiful strategy for me but you’re unique and the beauty of this life if that you get to decide for yourself what feels good and what feels constrictive. Yoga is a practise —like an art class that teaches techniques, it’s important to keep your own sense of agency, authority and creative expression.

Practising yoga doesn’t mean the body won’t accumulate tension but it means you get better at showing up to what’s present — better at “unknotting” & better at being compassionate to the process. It’s not a war where the tangled need to be eradicated and kept at bay. No. It’s a way of accepting the journey and starting where we are. No one way being better than the other — there are days that we are going to show up a tangled mess but we gain the capacity to accept ourselves as tangled and free — a bit of both. 

Before knowing differently, I would think it best to eradicate knots all together and perhaps my perspective will continue to change— but right now I sometimes like to think that being “tangled and free”  is a more balanced and realistic perspective. When I accept myself as tangled and lovable I can also give others the freedom and  compassion to be “tangled and lovable” in their own ways too.

Reminds me of something my mom likes to say,  “Everything in balance. Even balance”.