This was a tough day. Lots of external pressure on my internal zen. Lucia is officially a child monster right now (13 is a sucky age), and I had driving duty in the morning for my parents and their cataracts. During which time I got to hear all about how they have an "unmanageable" dog and didn't know what to do. Never mind the fact that said unmanageable dog was only recently acquired 3 days ago. Never mind that said dog is a puppy(6 months). Never mind that they were actually surprised the dog barked in his kennel in a room--by himself--at night. I think they were one foot out the dog owner door. Three words for them. Cool. Your. Jets. I spent 4 hours helping them acquire this seriously beautiful (seriously sweet) dog last Friday morning so they had something to love and care for and I'm starting to seriously regret it. Hopefully they won't read this.
Layer in dealing with Ava taking it upon herself to self-medicate some additional ADHD meds (because her dose isn't high enough according to her), the fact that John is leaving again tomorrow for L.A., and the house always seems to be way more messy than I can mentally stand, and I'll just state the obvious, the day was long and I had to work at keeping my cool.
But I digress....this is about yoga. Except that it all sort of relates, because THIS is what I love about yoga. It is a little salvation in the middle of what otherwise might be a day you'd spent HOURS bitching about, but with yoga you might be like me and condense your bitching down to a mere 10 mins or so. Big smiley face for that one. And I know, I do know (intellectually), that none of the things I'm bitching about are big deals at all, and I ask myself why I get worked up. The answer is, I don't know, but I do. The other answer is yoga, because this particular soulful activity (for me at least), helps calm the noise in my head and reduces the level at which all this "stuff" gets me worked up. By the way, THIS (i.e. what you are reading) is actually reduced in it's crazy level. Scary huh? Thank god for soulful activities.
I took a noon class today, with a new teacher (this particular teacher just finished a training certificate probably 4 months ago, and is related to the owners of the studio so he has an "in" to start teaching at the coolest studio ever even though he's a newbie). It was a simple class, which was nice, and his focus was the simple reminder that being mindful is the key. That it takes effort and practice to be mindful, and that we were practicing it right there on the mat. It made me ponder the fact that the best part about religiously finding and doing your "soulful activity"--whether it's yoga, walking your dog, swimming, running....or meditation, whatever....is that you have the opportunity to practice mindfulness, and maybe carry that into other activities that aren't as beloved but where it's just as important to be present and engaged.
I need to study and journal tonight. I haven't meditated yet either. Maybe that's my problem. Oh, plus I need to run thru my 8 poses with Ava as my yoga subject. Dang, that all sounds like a lot. Better get moving....
Signed, ME {lv}
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