Is yoga practice the prep or the meal?

The enjoyment of yoga practice is of course important ... how much we enter into a full and engaging yoga practice, how good we feel as we do it and perhaps the 'afterglow' that we get from a satisfying practice. These factors help us maintain our yoga practice. BUT there is another view to this.

The yoga practice - the moving and breathing, the meditative focus etc. - they are the preparation.

Just like in a kitchen you clean, chop, mix, heat, stew etc. The ingredients are all there and prepped in anticipation of a meal later on. The meal is the fruit of the effort, the result of the prep. The meal in yoga practice, is the rest of your life outside of your practice. The benefits might be obvious, but equally they might be subtle, they most certainly will show up later.

Perhaps an ache will reduce, perhaps a tension habit will subside, perhaps the sleep will start to improve, or you'll be less moody. Perhaps your chores will feel more pleasurable, or you'll be more present with your kids or colleagues. Perhaps you'll be more patient or open to other people's ideas, perhaps you'll be a little kinder - It shows up in many ways. 

But the other can also be true. The prep may feel GREAT. The practice might be fully satisfying, and you want more prep. You might feel like you are becoming a fantastic chef and your prep is awesome. You practice more, you love it, you find your tribe and you're into it, BUT you don't notice the meal.

Life beyond the practice is the important bit - how the prep leaves you. Do you feel tired? Are you getting a repetitive strain or grumbling discomfort in your body that wasn't there before? Are you agitated or judgemental, impatient or aggressive etc. How is your ego handling all of this awesome prep and how great you have been feeling lately? How are your relationships with those around you? Subtle results that are important revelations to the results of our practice. Being vigilant to the sidetracking towards the glitter of the prep, rather than the meal itself and how it shows up in you in subtle ways, is a consideration when practicing yoga. 

What I love about yoga practice is that the more consistent and appropriate prep you do, the better the meal - the better the rest of your life feels. This builds day-on-day, week-on-week, year-on-year. And occasionally in our prep, we get to taste a sublime flavour that stays with us far beyond the yoga mat. 

Regular, consistent, appropriate prep, regular consistent practice, to bring into the rest of your life. 
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​Enjoy.