Real MF Life Yoga
I woke up this morning reflecting on what I’d like to offer to the world today. Specifically, what I wanted to offer to the beautiful souls that show up each Sunday to practice yoga together. I looked at the date on my phone: September 13. 13 has always been an auspicious number for me. It feels slightly less so given the fact that it was exactly six months ago today, Friday, March 13, that we found out about the public health emergency declared in our state and our country due to the outbreak of Covid-19 .
Six months ago today I attended my last in-studio yoga class. Six months ago today I ate inside an actual restaurant. Six months ago today I found out our schools were closing for three whole weeks (if only) until after spring break. Six months ago today, I had a conversation with my friend Clare about the buzz of all the changes that were on the horizon. I mentioned how I felt like this “coronavirus situation” was going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
Six months ago today, we had no idea what we were in for. We had no clue how many last of the “normal” moments we would enjoy that day. What would we have said, felt or done differently, knowing what we know now? Hindsight is always 20/20. Would I have savored savasana for a few moments longer, breathing in community with the people sharing space inside my six foot bubble? Would I have given Clare one more squeeze goodbye, knowing it would be our last hug until who knows when? Would I have lingered in discussion with friends after eating out at little Mexican restaurant downtown, rather than rushing to return home, knowing all restaurants would soon close their doors to dining inside, some forced to close their doors forever? What would my current self say now to my six months ago self then? Note: For a little humor check out part 1 and part 2 of this demonstration.
So here we are. Six months later. Definitely a marathon, not a sprint. The thing is, we don’t even know what mile we are on. We could be at mile 3 or mile 11. I certainly know we are nowhere close to mile 26! We are tired and weary with still so many miles to go before we sleep.
With so much unknown, what do we actually know? What has been revealed?
We know that this time in our lives has revealed that the certainty of life and the comfort of normal, was nothing more than an illusion, a construct that we created to make ourselves feel more comfortable in an uncertain world where there are no guarantees. We will never have a normal day again. Because we never really had one to begin with.
We know that this time in our lives has revealed both the ugliest and most beautiful parts of humanity we have witnessed in a long while. This time has been unbearable, dark, terrible, beautiful, expansive, soul crushing, soul nurturing, a curse, a gift. And we are somewhere in the very messy middle of this reveal. Brene Brown refers to it as Day 2.
We know that this time has called us to our mats. To practice real life yoga. Or as the very honest and authentic author of On Being Human, Jen Pastiloff, refers to it as “real motherf-ing life.” To me this calling sounds like this, “Oh, you think you have a strong yoga practice? Well how about this real MF life yoga practice opportunity right here? (Insert pandemic, unemployment, virtual school 1.0, uprising of social injustice and unrest, hurricanes, wildfires, political division, virtual school 2.0). How's your practice now?!” (Invitations don’t always sound inviting. Sometimes they are a giant smack in the face.)
What we also know is this. This time has not only called up to our mats, it's called us to to our lives. This time has called us to EACH OTHER. We have been invited to wake up. We have been called to choose each day whether we stay awake or go back to sleep.
What will you do with your next six months? What will it reveal about you? What will it reveal about us? Will you answer the call to action? This is the time that our practice really shows us what we are made of, but only if we continue to commit to show up day in and day out.
This is REAL MF LIFE YOGA!
Let us continue to meet each other on and off our mats.
I’ll leave you with the beautiful words of Morgan Harper Nichols
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You find yourself
Beneath a canopy of trees
With broken branches,
Covered with moss tangled at your knees.
Rest assured
The forest does not crawl on forever.
But you must begin the journey
Here.
For this is the time,
This is the time to come alive,
To walk tall with a beating heart
And wide-open midday eyes,
To surrender,
Here in the green,
For you are still free
To travel free,
Without knowing everything,
Humbly following the traces of daylight,
Even though the path is unmarked,
Even though this was not a favored start,
This is your only Hope
To make it through
Precisely here,
Pushing through the land of the unknown
You will find your home
In Hope.
So for now,
While you are here,
Turn your attention
To the lessons of strength
This present forest offers.
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