The Best Practice is the One You Do

Have you heard the adage "if you don't have twenty minutes to meditate then you should meditate for an hour and a half"? How does this statement make you feel? Does it inspire you to carve out that suggested hour and a half? Or does it make you feel a bit hopeless and shamed about your inability to do so, so instead you give up on any practice at all?

A couple of weeks ago a friend and colleague who has recently taken charge of her health and well-being by quitting smoking and having a healthier diet shared a bit about what has helped her. She gets up a little earlier and does about 30 minutes of yoga. She seemed both proud of and a bit embarrassed by the humility of her practice - "ït's only half an hour, but it really sets me up for the day ahead."

When I first started developing a home yoga practice, I had this idea in my head that if I didn't do an hour and a half practice, it wasn't really a practice at all. Because I have a job and a family, a mortgage and a full life, my practice would fall away because of the challenge of carving out an hour and a half for a "real" practice.

Now, like my wise friend and colleague, I make time where I can to nourish and support myself, whether it's in five minute increments or whole weekends away. It's not necessarily an hour and a half a day. And it's not always meditation as we traditionally understand it. Sometimes it's lovingly sipping my delicious morning coffee or ignoring the need to hop out of bed and instead stay cuddled in bed with my kiddos. I feel nourished by walking with my dog in the rainforest, reading a good fiction novel, napping, dancing, or watching my chickens peck and graze free-range-style.

Lovingly caring for ourselves shouldn't be just another chore on our to-do list. Our practice, whatever it looks like, should be developed and supported from loving compassion for ourselves, as opposed to a sense of obligation. And the best practice is the one you do, so do what enchants your soul, what makes your heart smile, what sets your spirit alight.

We can become disconnected with what nurtures and delights us. If you want some support reconnecting to your delight, I have a couple of offerings starting soon:

Spring Special! Invest in three one-to-one sessions and get a fourth free, for the month of October. One-to-one sessions allow you the chance to explore exactly what you need. Each session is tailored exactly to you and can include either meditation and/or yoga.

Yoga for Resilience -  This six week online yoga and meditation class starts 20 October at 10:00am Sydney time. This class is specially designed to support mental and physical wellness and is appropriate for all levels of experience. You are welcome to attend online or watch the recordings (or both!). The investment is $75 AUD

Yoga for Stress Relief - This six week yoga and meditation class takes place in Mullumbimby and starts 28 October at 9:30am. In addition to the six weekly classes, there is the option to add a one-to-one before the course begins. The investment is:
$170 if registered by 19 October (this includes the one-to-one)
$195 if registered by 20 October (this also includes the one-to-one)
$135 for returning students

Thank you to Miguel Bruna @mbrunacr on upsplash.com for the beautiful image.