4 Powerful Lessons From The Mat
How you show up on the mat is a reflection of how you show up in life
There are certain poses that I really don’t enjoy doing (chair is one). I resist, forget the corner of the mouth lifting technique (a smile) and count the seconds until I could move to a new pose. Funny how these same feelings show up in similar situations in life. Learning to love and accept the challenging poses through breath and presence has naturally helped me through the tough parts of life. The mat is a place where we can practice steadying ourselves through life’s challenges.
Prioritizing rest creates productivity
Yoga has taught me to stay grounded during busy times. The best thing I ever did was give myself permission to make rest a high priority in my schedule, on the same priority level as my other commitments. This requires boundaries and discipline. Knowing yourself and your limits allows you to plan ahead and choose mindfulness during even the most hectic of times.
You can do many things, just not all at once
This quote solidifies how easily our intentions can scatter with distractions. Multi-tasking may seem like a great skill to have, but it puts the brain and body on overload. Have you ever heard of mono-tasking? Doing one thing at a time allows you to focus and remain present.. Being on the mat has helped me become more present to what I was choosing, and being mindful before jumping in to the next thing.
Paolo Cardini’s Ted Talk on Monotasking - in it he explains how overloading your system with too many tasks can cause a decline in efficiency and IQ. When we focus on one thing at a time, it allows our brain to make room for inspiration. There are less distractions and more space to be 100% with your task at hand. So far it’s working for me. You can enjoy listening to his talk here… it’s short but powerful!
The more you get on your mat, the more you feel drawn to experiences that align with your soul
Past experiences and struggles begin to surface as an opportunity to release. Old energy gets stored and stagnant in our bodies, and yoga helps it move through and out.
