Little Bit In a Lot of Places

Because I lacked the faith in myself to make good business decisions, (for good reason), I did so only with LOTS of counsel.  At some point I got tired of the drama running a business like that creates. I started to study. I listened to podcasts, read books, and talked with others who had found their way out of the fear that was holding me back.  I started believing in my ability to make good decisions and I started to feel stronger and grounded.  

This past year has taught me a lot about what’s important in my life.  An accident that left me immobilized and dependent abruptly pulled me out of my business for the better part of a year..  The effects that had on Yoga Path resulted in a business that needed me to jump in with both feet and my whole heart to get it back off the ground. 

I realized that part of my healing was learning to use Yoga Path to speak my voice.  I want to share what I learn because I believe I can help people learn how to feel better in their bodies, empowered in their ability to help themselves feel better, and warmed by the realization that their practice is bringing ease into other areas of their life as well.  That’s my whole heart.  

So, I had a choice; put my energy towards healing, or put it towards fear of failure.

Every decision—from how I scheduled my day, to how I responded to people around me, to how I woke up and fell asleep—was measured against, “what is important in my life?”

Extending  a lot of energy outside of myself brought a grasping, clingy sensation that I would hold in my body, and carry with me throughout my day.  I didn’t realize I had a choice to not engage in this way. I believed it was outside of my scope of behavior, inner dialogue, and nature.  “Other people”, I believed, had access to a way of life that I longed for and simply didn’t possess.  

There was always a choice.

We can’t see our options to find balance, peace, clarity,  until we recognize our access to a LOT more choices.  When we tap into our power, it  becomes evident in our experiences,  our bodies, our hearts, our minds. 

In my classes, I often ask students to seek balance between effort and ease—to choose how far to go and listen to internal cues from the body. Whether a posture is strenuous or passive, there is an opportunity to practice choosing.

I know from my own experience that I spent many years going for sensation. I would lean into a posture, feeling into concentrated sensation in just a few areas of my body. This made it abundantly clear that my body was WORKING. HARD. (I wanted proof that I was working very hard.)

I was actively choosing stress.

By backing off of that urge to seek sensation and instead find a more balanced position in my body, I’m allowing myself to share the load with my whole self.

In this, I’m actively choosing to distribute the stress.

Rather than feeling a LOT in a little bit of places, I began to feel a little bit in a lot of places. And while I may not FEEL the effort in the moment so sharply, it makes for a much more integrated and healthy physical practice. 

What we experience on the yoga mat is a microcosm of what we experience in daily life—and so I invite you to apply the concept of “a little bit in a lot of places” to the idea that what happens anatomically can also happen throughout your experience. 

Where is energy going throughout your day? 

Is it concentrated in one place? 

Are you choosing stress, or are you choosing to distribute the stress?

I’ve found that when I put a LOT into one place in my daily life rather than a little bit in a lot of places, I am much more worn out. 

When I’m energetically rushing from place to place, feeling the busy-ness and the stress and the strain… can I invite myself to back off? Can I ask myself where my highest priorities are? How can I spread the load?

We don’t have to grip. We don’t have to rush. We don’t have to worry about making people like us or be happy with every single thing we do.

We can be in the moment. And this moment. And the next moment, when it comes.

By practicing this, I have begun to feel a more childlike excitement and wonder at the endless opportunities and possibilities around me—even with the stress of running a business, raising a child and oodles of dogs (and a cat), and maintaining relationships with my husband, friends, family, and community at large.

In essence, what I’m talking about is a bastardized version of one of the Yamas—said otherwise, one of the five observances recommended by yogic philosophy: Brahmacharya. This tenet reminds me to keep each moment sacred and notice what takes me out of being okay.

I invite you to take a few moments to ask yourself today:

1. Where is my energy throughout the day?

2. How can I share the load?

3. What’s my highest priority?

4. Am I present, in this moment, or am I already onto the next?

There’s very little that’s worth the stress we choose to give. How can you put your energy towards healing—both anatomically and in your experience? Hit reply, and let me know!

Love,

Kate

P.s. Enrollment is now open for the next 200 Hour Yoga Path Teacher Training! Class beings on January 12th, and we’re currently accepting students for both our daytime and evening sessions. Early Bird enrollment gives you immediate access to unlimited studio classes and $200 off your payment. Enroll here, or hit “reply” to send any questions my way.