Monday, December 16, 2013

twenty-two | practising simplicity

Every Wednesday night I go to a yoga class - it's my mid-week reprieve, an opportunity to find space, rediscover patience and gain perspective. To begin my practice I lay with my legs up the wall in viparita karani, my arms wide, my eyes closed. And I let myself soften into the floor. My entire sadhana (spiritual practice) last week was about softening without effort. My teacher's words resonated so strongly:


"...if you had to stay where you were for 10 more breaths, what would you shift so you could be comfortable? What would you change if you had to stay here for 100 more breaths, or a lifetime of breaths?"

She was talking about being in an asana but she subtly hinted at the practice of life, too. What a beautiful question to pose to mothers; the women who live that role for now and forever - for the next 10 breaths and the next million.

What can you shift so you can be more comfortable, so the experience can be more enjoyable? 

Those words have been circling my mind since last Wednesday, coming to the forefront just when things start to get challenging. And I've shifted many things to make space and create opportunities, to quell tantrums and see things for what they are (and not what my emotions make them out to be). My experience as a work-from-home mother has benefited greatly as I've found a new way of integrating work and writing into family life - a very small change that has made a significant impact on my productivity, creativity and happiness. 

So: shift and change things around so you can be more comfortable. 

Take time this week to lie with your legs up the wall, if only for five minutes. Close your eyes, let out a few sighs and be still. It's one of the most rejuvenating practices you can do. This week we all need it more than ever. I hope you find a few minutes of calm amidst the crazy. 

posted by: Jodi

19 COMMENTS

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  1. RonnieDecember 16, 2013 at 1:27 PM

    I will have to try this, Jodi, as my last week has been utterly overwhelming and I desperately need to 'regroup' for the next ten days...
    Thank you for always sharing our beautiful words and insight with us.
    Love,
    Ronnie xo

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  2. lydiaDecember 16, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    Lovely post. I have declared December my home practice month, attempting to carve out 15mins a day to revive my yoga practice. My rule at the beginning was every day cannot just be viparita karani - but some days definitely can! Especially the days where toddler wrangling really means I need to stop, pause and breathe. I love these practicing simplicity posts. Thank you

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  3. Clare BDecember 16, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    Thank you Jodi. This post was what I needed today.

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  4. Imogen EveDecember 16, 2013 at 3:04 PM

    This post is perfect. Just as I've been thinking about resolutions for next year. Thank you Jodi.

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    1. Imogen EveDecember 16, 2013 at 3:05 PM

      ps I love the way the photo echoes your header.

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  5. tinajoDecember 16, 2013 at 4:38 PM

    That is one lovely pic, great colors! :-)

    http://tinajoathome.com/

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  6. UnknownDecember 16, 2013 at 8:01 PM

    Beautiful photo. I love what your yoga teacher said - it's a lesson I've been trying to learn all year!

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  7. Katrina@capturingmomentsDecember 16, 2013 at 8:14 PM

    What a lovely idea to practice. I have some shifting to do - thank you for the encouragement. x

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  8. UnknownDecember 16, 2013 at 8:27 PM

    As I read this, I exhaled. As I read this, my shoulders lowered. I so appreciate these posts Jodi (and I can't even get to a yoga class!).

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  9. Jessica RebeloDecember 17, 2013 at 12:21 AM

    Again you find the perfect words in this post. I need it to hear something like this today, I've been struggling so much lately with my 2 yrs old son as he changes so much without warning, and so quick. Often I find myself asking what I have to do to feel better, happier and in control of my emotions, thanks for the reminder.

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  10. i. A. JoshuaDecember 17, 2013 at 12:23 AM

    Thank you Jodi, as always beautiful words and exactly what I needed. I am gonna take your words with me, into the holiday break and hopefully find the courage to shift and change some bigger things in 2014. Please keep writing. Love from Cornwall, UK.

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  11. JayviewDecember 17, 2013 at 10:01 AM

    I so love your photo of the gum blossoms! Must wander out to interview our pink ones! Jean

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  12. JoKnowsDecember 17, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    Thank you. This is lovely. I really need to think about what I can shift to be more comfortable as a mom. My daughter had about seven tantrums today and my reactions were not the best!

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  13. Rhiannon Ward @ Love Wisdom MotherhoodDecember 17, 2013 at 2:28 PM

    I definitely have some shifting to do, thank you this a gentle practice x

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  14. Iliska DreamsDecember 17, 2013 at 4:37 PM

    Giving an intro to yoga course as a Christmas gift to Tamika, now you have me thinking I should join her

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  15. UnknownDecember 17, 2013 at 5:45 PM

    I love this! I was thinking again the other day about what keeps me coming back to this blog space and this kind of thing is a huge part of it: it's such a "giving" blog. Such beautiful advice delivered with such a gentle, mother-earth voice.

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    Replies
    1. JodiDecember 17, 2013 at 6:28 PM

      thank you for sharing such a lovely thought x

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  16. AnonymousDecember 18, 2013 at 12:23 AM

    Beautiful thoughts. They really had an impact on me this week and I shared them with my dance students last night. Thank you:)

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  17. molly hJanuary 3, 2014 at 6:30 PM

    Thank you for sharing! I will definitely be trying this out.

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