Day 13: Space

Today's theme, seemingly identical to "expand," started with a reminder to set the tone for today's practice. Seeing as I had flung myself out of bed in a panic that I had to do yoga and blog (and also that I had to get curtains for my new apartment in 2 months because clearly that's something I can do at this very moment). Forget that yoga and blogging were deadlines that I had set for myself.

But sheer panic and horror were what got me into this non-functional mess to begin with—an important part of recovery is not just setting a tone for a yoga practice, but setting a tone for the day. Panic doesn't necessarily lend itself to more productivity, but it certainly makes people stop and ask you if you've suddenly forgotten how to breathe.

Breathing is a tremendously effective tool in setting a calming, peaceful tone. Simply taking three or four deep belly breaths can remind you that everything is okay. That you are safe. Even if you have a million things on your to-do list, you can still make space to breathe, to take a few moments to check in with yourself.

Sliding into a cat-cow sequence, Adriene gently stated that we are worthy of good, and that we need to make space to allow that positive energy into our lives. While an ostensibly distinction from "expand," the semantics of these words are dramatically different: expand focused on taking up space and pushing against a tendency to make ourselves small. This wording suggests (somehow this series is turning into a close textual analysis) that the space is already there, being offered to us. We just have to accept the space. Making space is active. It's creating paths that aren't initially present. It's seeing a wall in front of our desires (true desires, not like "hey I want this new Colourpop palette. Although I would really like the new Colourpop palette) and walking around the wall. It's being presented with options A and B, and taking option C.

You get the idea.

Cat Cow Pose
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Do-Cat-Cow-Pose-26662589

It's a nice start to with the flow and remain flexible and open to what life offers us. But we also have to remind ourselves that if we're not happy with our lives, or we want something to happen, we have the power to make that thing happen. Yes, there will always be external (or internal) obstacles that may make certain dreams and aspirations difficult or impossible. But we have power to work towards that which seems impossible. We have the power to make space. 

Namaste. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an4YPhQKrw0