Last week, after my Tuesday night yoga class, I was complimented on my balance. The woman who complimented me ( a friend of mine) said that she was watching me during class and I have great balance. I was elated.
But it got me thinking…
Everyone that practices yoga is, for the most part aware, that yoga doesn’t end when you get off the mat; it’s a lifestyle. You can’t really go from being calm, collected and present on the mat to giving someone the bird on your way home. It’s a lifestyle, you have to believe it but also live it. I’m pretty sure why they call it a “practice”, it’s not always easy off the mat. That being said, can you do well with balance on the mat but not off of it?
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Lately I’ve been feeling like quite the circus performer. My juggling act has added more items than I can handle (well almost). The Oxygen Challenge is still in full force, I’m helping my parents sell some of their belongs by way of flea markets (which takes up entire weekends), splitting wood, working part-time, school for my oldest, birthday parties, play dates, blogging, don’t even get me started on social media, wife, mother, getting ready for an amazing concert and being a friend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining I just have a hard time balancing it all. Time management was something I took pride in and now all of that is out the window.
The INSANE part is I actually have more time now. I don’t have to drive over an hour one way to work then work 40 hours a week. In fact my commute is about 20 minutes and that’s only because I have to drive my little guy to my parents house in the next town over. Once he’s in school my commute will be about 3 minutes. I don’t work 40 hours either. During the winter months my hours go up, but right now I’m part-time at about 21 hours a week.
My out of yoga class life is wobbly at best. Airplane or tree poses are OUT of the question. I thought in time pieces would just fall into place. I’ve been part time for almost 3 years now and while my pieces are not together, they are at least in somewhat of an orderly fashion. Sure I’m not as productive as I could / should be, but I also have to make time for living. My balancing act is a work in progress.
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This week in class, the yogi teacher said, “balance is one of the hardest things you’ll do in yoga. It requires you to stop the chatter in your mind and be present in the moment.” (If you’re not present you will fall, trust me I’ve seen it happen.) I believe what she said translates to life as well. Balance is hard it requires a lot of attention and focus, but whether or not you step out of your pose just take a second, let your breath guide you back to your focus and go right back to balancing.
Much Love,
Jes xoxo