Yoga. How i've missed you.

So. It's the holiday season and i love it. But. (yes--there's a 'but'.) This time of year is absolutely crazy. And it's easy to go full speed ahead and try and do everything. See everyone you haven't seen in a while (or a long while), attend every get-together. And it gets to be a pretty tiring time of year before you know it.

I decided to do what i have been fighting for over a month. Yoga. I expected a good scolding as i entered the yoga studio last night from my yoga instructor---i expected him to say "where have you been!!???" But he didn't. He was glad i came back. It had been ME doing all that internal scolding. Typical, huh?

Well, yoga is something that i fight. And i don't think that is abnormal. I think we fight the uncomfortable. We fight slowing down and actually going to the place where we actually have to be present with ourselves and feel our feelings. Sometimes it scares us. To be vulnerable like that. I've blogged many times about comfort zones. And last night it took everything in me to go back to yoga. To get out of my comfort zone that has consisted of walks in my neighborhood and not much else. To realize that i would be so glad once the class was over. I talked to a new friend(shout-out to Aunt Susan:)) about yoga this past weekend. It reminded me of the benefits of yoga...it inspired me to get back on the wagon. So I did. And last night's class--in a peaceful studio-- lit with candles--away from the hustle and bustle just outside the door--I found Susan again. And it felt wonderful. Just me. Just God. Just my mat. Just my breath.

Peace.

At the close of the class--after the final sivasana--we came to seated positions as the instructor said "may our practice serve to heal us...and all those around us."

Peace. And a whisper of "thanks" to myself for going.

I've said it before and i'll say it again. Yoga is not my religion. Jesus is. But there is something so healing. So peaceful. So wondrous about a good yoga class.

As i get packed up to go home this year for Christmas, i want to take yoga with me. I want to take my pink yoga mat home so that i'll have a place to return to when i begin to feel off-balance. So that i can pray and claim the peace and healing that i experienced last night. What a gift to myself.

So maybe this Christmas will be a little different. Maybe it'll be on purpose. Maybe i'll try to be more mindful. And mindful of the blessings that i count in my life during this season. Mindful of my Savior, for whom i am most grateful....for his faithfulness through the past year.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5.