Stillness

Be still…

Just sit or lie there. Ignore that itch. Don’t reach for your phone. Don’t move a muscle.

Just. Be. Still.

It’s hard, isn’t it?

Finding stillness between poses during yoga is the hardest part of the the class—it’s not the movement and it’s not the 100+ degree heat that challenges me the most (they’re challenging, don’t get me wrong). It’s finishing a pose, coming to a standing or lying position, and just being still.

In those moments of stillness, when I avoid the urge to wipe the sweat from my face, adjust my shorts, or take a sip of water, something special happens.

I’m able to connect with my breath. I’m able to slow my heartbeat down. The momentary discomfort goes away and there is a sense of calm and peace. You’d think the calm and peaceful feeling would make stillness easy, but as much as I crave the experience of peace, I might find it 2 or 3 times during class.

Stillness is hard.

Throughout the day, try to find opportunities to interrupt yourself and just be still. Focus on your breath, ignore the urge to take action, and allow the stillness of your body to find its way to your mind.

I don’t know what your experience will be in these moments but I can promise you that sometimes good things happen when we just do nothing—and the world doesn’t make stillness easy, which makes it that much more valuable.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC