How to disrupt your schedule

How to disrupt your schedule:

• Set aside your practice now and then to participate in year-end holiday events
• Have kids that come home for the holidays
• Visit out-of-state friends between Christmas and the New Year
• Get Covid.

I followed this recipe exactly! And boy did it disrupt my practice. The few months between the time of my silent retreat and the holidays I was wonderfully consistent and plugged in both physically and spiritually.  I thought there was no way I would ever want to drop any of what I was doing, I was so dedicated and interested and excited! And then, bang! Almost everything fell apart.
I was surprised to find how hard it was to stay with my practice with all of the distractions this year (once again!). I did start to get a bit nervous after listening to a podcast where a man described his three-month retreat and the challenge he faced staying with his practice when he returned to society. Even after three months of nonstop introspection and gaining amazing insights, his most valuable insight turned out to be how the distractions of the world are strong and will pull you away from what your practice has shown you.
It turns out that the timing of my falling into the end-of-year, and-oh-now-I-have-covid ditch was perfect, of course. My two physical injuries last year really taught me about chronic pain and restricted range of motion, something I spoke about often but had never lived. (Thanks a lot 2023!) I imagine I will be a better therapist and teacher now that I am living with those things. And now having fallen into a practice-challenging ditch? Well, let's see how it plays out.
One thing that I have always pointed to is my “good karma" for practicing.  I have managed to keep on the road of spiritual practice for 30 years – no matter what. But last week I understood how people can walk away. “I will never be able to stick with it after all, It’s easier this way. Once you stop it’s too hard to start again. Etc”
Fortunately, in spite of enjoying my new found lethargy, my “good” karma kicked in again, and I am able to tell you that you CAN get back into it. Yes, it is easier to not sit for meditation and do nothing, but don’t trust it. That “easier” is only temporary – like it was easier for me not to do any physical exercise last week and just lay around watching reruns of Columbo. But boy, did my back hurt! Every morning I had to sit with a heating pad. I was stiff. I was walking like a very, very, old person who just sits around and watches reruns of old shows – and I was cranky because of it. And then reality hit after teaching two classes Sunday morning? Oy! At 57, things can go south really quickly after a week.
I meet so many people at Eco Loka who tell me all the (very good) reasons they had to leave their yoga practice, and I can see there is a good deal of trepidation about starting up again. It makes sense, right? It is hard not to grieve all the things you used to be able to do, who you did them with and how good you looked – and felt – doing them. But knowing that your yoga practice brings you joy and equanimity, contentment, good health and positivity, are you willing to forgo the comparison to what it once was so you can get back to a practice?
Ok, so you fell off. But now it’s time to get back and reconnect, whether it is your physical practice or your meditation practice, even just reading and self- inquiry! The important part is to just start!
Don’t fret about where you have been and what you can no longer do. And certainly, don’t let those feelings stop you from picking up where you left off (or even starting a few steps back.) Your future practice does not care. It will always open its arms to you and embrace you where you are.
Let me help you rekindle your spiritual goals, address your physical needs and explore whatever it is you're most curious about.
See the workshops listed here, and maybe consider the Spiritual Mentoring program. You get one-on-one guidance for you spiritual enhancement. More info below.

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