Flexibility with All Aspects of You
When most people think of yoga, they think of the physical postures seen in every yoga class and all over social media. They see the flexibility and impressive contortions of the body. And flexibility is part of yoga. However flexibility is more a byproduct of the various practices within yoga. And it’s not just physical flexibility that develops, but flexibility of the mind and within life itself. Yoga doesn’t just do its magic on the mat, but off the mat as well.
Did you know that the origin of yoga was actually more focused on developing comfort and stability in the body to be able to sit in meditation and stillness for long periods of time? It’s true.
Enlightenment was the aim in the development of yoga, and meditation was, and still is, seen as a means toward enlightenment. It was a means of enlightenment by developing flexibility within the mind, the ego, and overall manner in which we navigate life on Earth. Asanas, pranayama, meditation, drawing the attention inward, are all pieces to the greater puzzle, working together to develop a sense of non-attachment and flexibility in our lives.
But why is flexibility so important?
Physically, flexibility means ease. If you have a decent amount of flexibility that means you are able to move with and within your body with less pain and discomfort. This potentially means a decreased chance of injury or ailment.
The same can be said for mental and emotional flexibility. It creates more ease and allows things to move more freely within your life and the world around you when you’re more willing to adapt and change as life happens.
Have you ever really pushed for something to happen, in your way, in your timing, and no matter what you did, there always seemed to be a roadblock or two? Alternatively, have you ever had a goal or idea in mind but also remained open to how it all unfolded? Did you notice a difference in how you felt about both situations and the ease in which things progressed?
As we enter the new year, it can be exciting and rejuvenating for many people. The possibilities & opportunities to begin anew can be something many crave by the end of the year. And it can also bring about the opposite: dread or sadness or disinterest, with some wondering, what makes a new year any different than the last?
There can be some truth with both. Just because our culture calls it a new year, doesn’t make it true internally, and a new beginning can be a great reset, or fresh start, filled with hope and optimism. Wherever you stand, perhaps the new year is more about mindset, and the flexibility in how you can uniquely approach it and make it your own.
As I reflect on 2022 I can recall this same time last year and the intentions I made, the goals I planned for. As I take stock now, I can see how some were achieved, while others fell flat. I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a critical voice inside ready to pounce on perceived failures. But before I go down that road, I recall the things that did happen - both planned and unplanned. A lot of things I never planned for and never would have thought to plan for. And it occurs to me, maybe those perceived “failures” are just that. Perception. It’s not a failure at all. It didn’t happen because other things took priority, or my goals changed, or I changed. And just like that I remember my humanness. The fluidity and ever-changing nature of what it means to be human.
Sometimes the dread or disinterest in the new year is more about unrealistic expectations we hold for ourselves, or simply the expectation that we won’t change our goals or desires throughout the year.
Change can be scary and intimidating.
Here’s a few ways to approach your goals, in the new year and in the future, with more ease and flexibility:
1.) Reflect and assess
Take some time to reflect on the previous year and your previous goals. Did some goals simply change? For the goals you did achieve, what made you successful in achieving them? For those that you didn’t achieve, what stood in the way or hindered your progress? What factors were in your control and which were outside of your control? And as you move forward, are there goals you want to revise, revisit, or completely alter? Are there goals to build upon in the coming year? This reflection is a time to be honest with yourself, without all the judgment! Everything is still progress.
2.) Small action steps
Take a look at your goals you’ve laid out. Prioritize them and determine which are most important to you so you have a definitive starting point. Within each goal, how can you break them down into small actionable steps? Many goals are compounded over time. We slowly work towards them through consistent, possible mundane, behaviors each day. Those behaviors compound until the goal is reached. Be realistic and gentle with yourself and your expectations here.
3.) Celebrate & be flexible
Celebrate all progress! Celebrate the consistency, the failures, the successes. Even failures are leading you somewhere and are a great compass to let us know where we need to pivot or alter completely. And when we do need to pivot, allow flexibility to take over. Surrender to your ever-changing nature of being human.
Whatever your stance on New Year’s and resolutions or intentions, chances are, you still lay out goals for yourself, have dreams and desires. Be flexible and open to change, and know it is inevitable.
Sometimes we have to figure out what we don’t want before we can clearly define what we do want.
