3 views on yoga to help direct your practice

​Life can throw us so much stuff sometimes. 
 
At the moment one of my kids is having a hard time. I wouldn't trade being a teenager again for anything, I've done my time, and he is doing his 100%. He is doing his teenage job of figuring himself out and facing some demons, and as his mum, I need to show up and be there for him as best I can. 
 
This is as much my yoga practice as when I step on my mat each morning. 
 
It is on me to keep calm because he can't yet. I need to tune in, to him and to me, to really listen to what is going on, so that I can keep regulated in the face of his teenage 'moments'. I need to practice patience, not over think what is happening or take any of it personally. To bounce back quickly, not be judgemental about what is going on and keep showing up moment by moment with my full presence and heart. To hold it all lightly and enjoy the moments even when they seem tough. And keep taking care of myself during the rough rides that are part of growing up.
 
We do all of this in the microcosm of our mat practice, breath by breath, moment by moment, and we bring it with us into each day to help us show up as best we can.
 
My mat based yoga practice is part of my self care. Nurturing myself and restoring equilibrium and balance.
 
It is also essential maintenance for my body and mind, to ensure I'm staying as well as possible during challenging times. Not just taking care of myself, but also investing in preventing future problems emerging, physically, mentally and emotionally.
 
It is challenging but who ever thought parenting was going to be easy? I just need to do what I can to make sure I am up for the challenge. 
 
But my yoga is also something much greater than self care and much more than essential maintenance... 
 
There are 3 ways you could view your practice:
 
1) Do you view yoga as 'self-care'? That thing we do when we feel stressed, stiff, immobile, in need of some nurture or emotional rebalancing. It is this, and more. 
 
2) Do you see it as 'essential maintenance'? A bit more fundamental than self care. The oiling of the creaky bits, increasing the fluidity of whole body and mind suppleness. The clearing out of the accumulated grind and freeing the breath. The regular maintenance routine that helps us operate in the way we like to and help prevents things going awry too far. Yoga is this and more. 
 
3) Do you see yoga as a way to connect to something more fundamental than either of these?
Yoga can bring us to a place where nothing needs fixing, maintaining, or improving. Where we are able to let go of the need to change anything. Improving tight hamstrings wouldn't make any difference to how whole and connected you feel to yourself and others and how a sense of joy and contentment isn't improved by touching your toes or achieving your most focused practice state. The aches don't matter when the peace you are seeking is found. And it can continue to be found, felt and enjoyed throughout the moments of the day once you know what your looking for and the best route there - even in the face of a meltdown. 
 
Yoga does all three of these brilliantly.
 
It is easy to be satisfied with the first one, and the second one, they are great to do and we should do them, regularly.
 
But the third one, a little more subtle, is where the real power and joy of yoga can be found, no matter what the level of challenge life may be throwing our way.
 
Enjoy your yoga.