Slowing the Flow

An Ode to My Yoga Mat

I looked at my yoga mat and burst into tears. The awareness and grief hit at one time. My mat has become an extension of my psyche. My personal reflection pond.  I miss her. Our morning flows and evening vinyasas. So I laid her out. Not to salute the Sun or say goodnight to the Moon, but to thank her. For every tear she held and every time she helped regulate my nervous system. For every inspiring word that was whispered in my ear while my feet were planted firmly on her. For being a container for my thoughts and allowing me the space to empty my head and attend to my body. I am eternally grateful.

Even now, she reminds me that I am stronger than my circumstances and that my body can do whatever I will it to do. She reflects back to be my own strength, tenacity, and shear stubbornness.

"We don't slip and we don't quit."

But sometimes you simply need to slow down the flow. You can only Vinyasa breath to movement for so long. Eventually, your body needs a few yin stretches here and there.

I could never abandon her because she is a part of me. So for now, I'm resting in child's pose.

 Namaste