Meeting Yourself Where You Are

In class, I often remind students to meet themselves where they are in that moment. That might mean adjusting the physical asana practice to how their body is feeling - choosing a particular variation of a pose, adding in props (or not), deciding whether to take the extra vinyasa or stay in Down Dog. Or, it might mean meeting themselves where they are mentally and emotionally. Maybe physically, their body feels fine, but they know that emotionally, they would benefit from a more restorative type of practice. Or perhaps they meet themselves where they are in the intention they set for practice, or in choosing whether or not to join in a particular type of breath work. 

Meeting ourselves where we are is a yoga practice not just on the mat, but off it as well. There are days in which applying the Yamas and Niyamas in life seems easier, on which I’m able to readily focus on concepts like Aparigraha - non-grasping or non-clinging.  On other days, I struggle to let go. Or take the Niyama of Santosha, or contentment. There are times in my life where, even though contentment has always been a bit of a struggle, I feel I’m able to practice Santosha rather decently. And other days, as much as I want to experience this, to practice this, it feels like a massive struggle. And in these moments, especially those in which the practice does not come so easily, I have to find what serves me best, to learn to continue to practice yoga as life with what I’m experiencing right now. 

I think this idea of meeting ourselves where we are, both on and off the mat, is especially important as we move into the winter months, the holiday season, and as we think about the approaching new year. From an on the mat perspective, the colder, shorter days of winter can make practice feel trickier. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get up and get on the mat in the mornings when it’s still dark out, or in the evenings when it’s already dark before 5PM. Joints and muscles can often feel tighter in the cold weather, and that may make the actual asanas feel a bit more challenging. Off the mat, this is a time of year where everything seems focused on gratefulness and giving and joy, and those are, of course, important. But this year especially, that may feel like a bit more of a stretch (no pun intended) for many of us. If you’ve lost your job or have had a loved one ill or have been ill, gratitude might feel a little tougher to access.  If you’re feeling isolated and alone, if you aren’t seeing family for the holidays like usual, contentment might feel like a difficult practice. If you’re struggling with the concept of letting go - of how things were, or how this time of year usually feels, or of yourself - know that you’re certainly not alone in that, and that it doesn’t make you a “bad yogi”, it makes you human.  On the flip side, if being forced to slow down, to not host or attend big gatherings, to simplify a bit feels more aligned for you, then honor that too. However you’re feeling, it’s ok to honor this, to feel what you’re feeling, to meet yourself where you are. 

Yoga is a practice, and that means there are going to be ebbs and flows. There are going to be times where you feel you’re able to really dive into the practice, whether it’s Asana or another of the Eight Limbs or the philosophy that it incorporates, and there are times where this is going to be a struggle. It’s all about doing the best you can with where you are in the moment. Meet yourself there.