Slowing Down to Appreciate the View.

I was lucky enough to enjoy a Spring weekend in a cabin in the New Forest recently. We caught up with old friends and sunk into simple, slow joys. The kids barely complained about the lack of wi-fi too. Winner. Cosied up, singing along to old classics by the warming log burner on the decking on Saturday night was a highlight. My cup is full.

There wasn't a downward-facing-dog in sight, but for me, this so was full of yoga. The kind of uplifting, present, feeling of balance and ease kinda yoga. Yoga 'off the mat' that I wonder if we only 'see' for all it's technicolour beauty when we practice the art of slowing down and paying attention?

When I first came to yoga, as is often the case, I believed yoga practice was all about the asana (the classical yoga postures). The time on the mat, the yoga shapes needing to become progressively more 'challenging', strong, bendy, and dare I say it, aesthetically pleasing (urgh).

That this somehow meant 'success'. Or validated me as a yoga student or teacher in some way. Which feels sort of embarrassing to admit tbh.

Spoiler alert... I was wrong!

I see now that there is so much judgement in these words, so much expectation, critisim, pre-conception. And so not much of the Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (truth) of yoga.

LESS CAN BE MORE

The more I am a student of SLOWNESS, in mindfulness meditation, yoga nidra, or just taking my time in slow flows on the mat, the more curious I am about how intentional practice infuses this more fulfilling way of being, perceiving, and experiencing life.

Not just for high-days and holidays, but (more importantly) in daily life too.

The more I have allowed space to practice slowing down (and as my son has got older this has been more possible), the more I feel like I am waking up to see the toxic productivity and 'lack' messaging in advertising and marketing in the world.

Words on repeat that leave us feeling not enough-ness, always pushing for more doing/ having/ obsessively striving in our lives, at all costs to our health. Sure, I still often feel I am not enough as a teacher, but when this insecurity kicks in have the tools to reconnect to now, and offer myself some kind words and feel the softness melt the tension.

SO instead of being on holiday, and trying to fill every second with doing stuff, or getting that immediate connection to wifi, or never really pausing to fully take in my surroundings and how lucky I am..... I noticed how I chose to put the phone down, walk solo in the woods early morning to slow down and appreciate the view, I felt resilient to attempt cold water plunging with breath showing the way to balance again, I watched the kids, savouring their smiles (because they're growing too fast) and the 4 days felt like a week. In all the right ways!

I appreciate that a weekend in the woods, appreciating simple pleasures in life, is not every day life. BUT there are many ways we can bring slowness, softness, gratitude and so more joy and acceptance into a daily life, to bring our yoga off the mat, when there feels like there just isn't any time.

HOW TO SOFTEN, WHEN THERE JUST ISN'T ANY TIME

Sometimes phases of life, such as raising young children, caring for elderly parents, or navigating demanding careers, require more of our time and energy. This is where integrated rest THROUGH the day becomes essential - grounding and supportive practices that help us rest BEFORE we reach burnout.

Pause, just for a few minutes a day if that's all there is capacity for, and reconnect your whole being to softness and ease by exploring any of these ideas:

1. Rest your energy. Slow down gradually by swaying side to side. Standing or sitting, pour your weight from one foot to the other, or one sit-bone to the other. Our tired-wired nervous system energy can feel soothed by this rocking motion (just as our babies can teach us).

   
   

2. Soften your gaze. Every 30 minutes or so, look away from the screen (if you're working this way) and gaze into the distance, allowing the muscles around the eyes to soften to take in periphery vision. Or cup hands over your eyes and look into the darkness, allowing eyes to rest from the world of looking.

   
   

3. Rest into presence. Notice you are breathing, witness the feeling of the body being breathed. Then guide breath rhythm towards slower, softer breaths, and slightly longer exhales. This stimulates the rest state of the nervous system (as always, go with what feels right for you).

   
   

4. Remember your worth. If feeling caught up trying to do more to feel good 'enough', try repeating this affirmation daily, several times, in mind or spoken softly to yourself: 'I am enough, just as I am' (or change this to language that sounds like your voice)

   
   

5. From doing to 'being'. On the yoga mat, or carpet, or kitchen floor, or bed... Explore yoga asana shapes, movement and stillness, with softness. That is, the intention to find ease in any effort, and presence in any moment. The ideas above could all support this any time you notice your awareness stuck to the thinking mind's stories.

   
   

This dance of ease within the ease (the Sthira and Sukha in yoga), the presence within the soft productivity, the 'being' within the doing, this is our practice.

This mindset of CURIOSITY, PRESENCE and SOFTNESS, rather than rushing and controlling arbitrary goals, is what I am most inspired by. This is what can support us to find the ease to ride the ups and downs of life with soft resilience and an open mind.

This softness is what can support our nervous systems, energy and minds to slow down and appreciate the view.

How are you showing up for your soft strengths today?

If you would like guidance and support to reconnect to this forgotten part of you, my Rest and Yoga Weekend Retreats, Day Retreats and yoga classes, or Private Yoga (online or in Bristol) practice is here to support you to be your own best teacher.