schrödinger's mat

As I have written previously, yoga is one of the things allowing me to exist in the currrent dystopia we find ourselves in without losing my sanity in the process. My practice has become a daily occurrence at this point, and has been ongoing enough to provide me the opportunity to reflect on the effects on this new routine. I wanted to share one brief takeaway that I have discovered lately.

Practicing with regularity over an extended period has created a sensation that makes it feel as if I am existing in a state where I am always simultaneously both on and off the mat. This routine makes yoga feel less like a distinct hour each day, and more like an ongoing process that is neverending. Each class is a continuation of the previous one and the beginning of the next one yet to come. I have discovered that when I take this approach, catharsis and serenity never seem too far out of reach.

Thinking of my practice in this way has made it easier to conceptualize my relationship with yoga as a journey and to practice radical acceptance for myself and the point I'm at whenever I step on the mat. Because I know that I will show up tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that (etc., etc.) I find that I am more capable of grace for myself in the here and now. Off the mat, this consistency has allowed me to navigate difficult situations with greater ease. Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, I know that before I know it I will resting on my mat at the end of a yoga class with a newfound sense of clarity. It is in this way that in my mind I am always on my mat - dealing with the ebbs and flows of life as they come.