We’re doing a challenge through January on my Facebook page: we have committed to do a certain yoga practice for the 31 days. Some have promised to begin or end their day with yoga, others to meditate every day, each person has made their own promise to themselves based on their needs or interest.
We are doing it because January is a tough time of the year for many people and this particular January there is a lot of bad news around with regard to the pandemic. This is a way for us to try to get through the month with as much grace, humour and kindness as possible, by doing yoga regularly.
We are holding each other accountable. We post when we have practised and we read about other people’s practice. Folks check in and communicate with each other. It’s a happy and supportive place to be this month.
I don’t fully understand why the simple act of coming together to do this helps us to stay true to the commitment that we have made. People are sharing that they wouldn’t have come to their mat (they were busy, exhausted, interrupted by a family member…) if it wasn’t for this challenge and therefore how grateful that they are to be taking part.
It is very motivating.
Perhaps motivation is the wrong word? Motivation comes and goes. Nobody is motivated all of the time. What is then that takes over and sees us coming to our mat even when we don’t feel like it?
Accountability to the group: we are social creatures and this is a friendly group. Others have shared their daily experience and this encourages us to do our bit, make our own contribution.
Faith. The Sanskrit word for this is Sraddha and we find it Yoga Sutra 1.20. Encapsulated here is the idea that when motivation is low, our faith in the practice of yoga helps us come to the mat. Most of us know what practising yoga gives us: peace, calm, a more comfortable way of living - that’s why we do it. When motivation is low, simple faith in yoga’s efficacy helps us to overcome lethargy and do a little of what helps.
Kindness. Everyone in the group has chosen their commitment with self-compassion in mind. They have asked themselves what will make them feel better this month and designed their practice with only that aim in mind. This makes the whole experience nurturing, positive and kind.
Flexibility. Yoga takes many forms: breathwork, asana, meditation, relaxation, mantra, etc. The commitment here is to come to your mat - how you practice will look different every day and rightly so. This means that you are working with your body, mind and emotions, not pushing through them to fulfil a goal.
Someone said they are enjoying the routine and I love that. The routine of self-care.
Someone else said that after their practice they could ‘go back and join the melee with a calm mind’ When we feel calmer and more whole, we are nicer people to be around and have more to give.
More words from the group: feeling grateful, feeling reflective, a lot of peace and stillness, glad of this incentive to come to my mat every day, probably wouldn’t have gone back this evening otherwise!
Fear is catching. The world has shown us that over the last 2 years. But so is peace. In an atmosphere of kindness and mutual support we are inspiring each other simply by sharing our own experiences of yoga. It’s a fine way to move through this darkest of months.
Sarah x