Rolling with the Waves

I've been absent. And I apologize.

At the end of September, I took a position managing the yoga studios that I teach at. I thought it would be wonderful to combine my detail-oriented mind with my love for yoga and the studios. And as a bonus, it was only 20 hours a week, so I could still be the stay-at-home mom that I am while bringing in the extra income that our household so needed.

To do the job well it required more than the 20 hours a week of work that I had signed up for. I was always in my car, always on the phone, always on the computer, always on my way to a studio...always going. I looked up and realized that I was going no where fast. I was certainly moving; but that meant that I was never present.

My relationships with my children, my husband, and my friends were suffering. My ability to practice asana had even taken a back seat. No matter how I pushed and shoved and rearranged, there was no balance to be found. So I stopped. Took a deep inhale. Paused (weighing the much needed income against my family, my friends, and my love for yoga). Exhaled and let it go. I resigned from the position after only 5 months. The shortest length of time that I've ever held any particular "job".

This brief episode reminded me of two things:
One, we can't allow ourselves to mistake movement for accomplishment.
And two, that when you're out on the ocean you should do your best to roll with the waves, but if you're heading toward a swirling vortex, swim like heck in the other direction. It may be hard to go against convention, but in many cases it will be well worth the effort.

I'm sure that both of these 'lessons' sound strange coming from a vinyasa yoga instructor. But think about it. Our asana practice is designed to tire us out so that we can come to stillness. Come to that moment of peace in savasana. Growth isn't in the flow. The opportunities for health, wellness, and a deeper connection with your Higher Self happen when you stop.