Yoga: how we are on the mat is often how we are off the mat (i.e. in life!)

One of the analogies I heard from Lumi during the 40 Days To Personal Revolution challenge is: how we are on the yoga mat is how we are off the matt. When I reflected on that saying, it rang true to me. I realized that how I am on the yoga mat, i.e. the attitude I have when practicing yoga, is exactly the same mindset I seem to apply to my life; in terms of how I deal with challenges, discomfort and goals.

Allow me to elaborate on this point. I am a goal-oriented person; driven and stubborn. So, when I set my mind to something, good luck trying to stop me. This can be good and bad. I am a dog with a bone, and I won’t let go. But it also means I become unbending, inflexible, and so set on the end result that I forget the process. To consider other possible alternatives, solutions or possibilities. With yoga, when I picked it up again as a regular habit about two years ago, I had the same bull-headed mindset. I would force myself to take on the toughest pose I could do, I would force myself to hold, stretch, pull and push. I would rush from one movement to the next, not really being mindful or present in the transition. Not realizing that there is beauty and discipline to be found in each small action, including the transitions. The transitions are as important to the poses, as is our evolution and metamorphosis in life. In my mind, the way to improve and to achieve maximum “pay off” was to always challenge, push myself and rush to achieve the goal or get to the next pose.

But over these past two years of healing, my mindset has slowly evolved. I remind myself that the process is part of the journey. Taking my time, listening to my body and becoming in tune with it is so important. It leads me to the right answers without having to obsess or over analyse (ladies and gentlemen, this is a constant work in progress for me…). I am more mindful and present in my everyday activities. From simple things such as doing the dishes to high concentration activities such as writing, I find I flow. Time does stand still a lot more when I do that, and I enjoy every activity. I am no longer (constantly) feeling rushed, stressed or distracted. I certainly still have those moments, but they are fewer and far in between. I savour my days with such simplicity and gratitude.

I found the same thing with my yoga practice. In yoga, when I am not rushing through the poses, I am less likely to injure myself and my body. I gain ease and eventually get there; more presently, being aware of every small movement and enjoying the process. I noticed I actually get farther than when I am trying to push and force things. I am more elegant in the way I practice yoga and I am certainly a lot stronger through the mindful, surrendering while being disciplined mindset I have adopted on and off the mat.

So a good question to ask yourself today is: how do I act on the yoga mat? Do I push through the tough poses? Do I try to get away with not doing the tough poses? Do I lie to myself and look like I am doing a tough pose but know I am not giving it my best? Do I find excuses to force myself to do the toughest post because it’s the toughest pose, instead of listening to my body and seeing that it needs in this moment? Do I rush trough the movements or do I enjoy each one? Do I give 100% physically and mentally to every single moment of the yoga practice, including the transition movements? Something as simple as my forward bend? Do I work on getting the foundations right? Do I understand and practice every micro movement correctly? Am I doing my downward dog correctly? Is my chaturanga dandasana accurate? Getting the foundations right and making small choices that add up can lead to life changing paths. It’s called the compounding effect, but that is a blog for another time. Today, let’s reflect on our attitude on the mat and see if that can help us with our attitude off the mat.