Following My North Star

Taking care of myself first so that I have the strength to give to others, work overtime, overcome criticism, and see the joy in my life

Throughout the pandemic, I have learned that if I am not taking care of myself physically, nutritionally, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally, I am a lousy mom, friend, teacher, communicator, and human being.

The safety lecture on airplanes — where they tell you to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others -- has become my North Star.

Photo by Ahmed Aqtai: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-ramadan-light-on-top-of-table-2233416/

I am committed to taking care of myself first so that I have the strength to give to others, work (including overtime), overcome criticism, and see the joy in my life (both personally and professionally) has become my priority.

A year ago, I went to my first yoga class.

Truth be told, I only went because my sweet friend and neighbor told me I had to go — she wanted us to support the (new) owner of the yoga studio in town. I went to my first class with a beach towel (no yoga mat) and was completely unable to touch my toes. I didn’t understand the yoga vocabulary or the pace of the class. I was inexperienced and naive.

But I survived my first class.

And survive is the right word because it was physically hard and it was humbling to take a class with others when you suck.

After my first class, I went to the next class and the next.

During the past year, I have gone to 200 yoga classes.

@yogaspotmeadville

Developing a yoga practice during the past year has been life-changing. Through yoga, I have become stronger, healthier (my blood pressure is down), and calmer. Additionally, I have learned —

1. To fail.
   I fall in and out of poses during every class. I fall out of balance poses like a professional. My teachers remind me again and again, that falling out of a pose is part of the practice. It is okay to fall out of a pose; you can go right back to it. And I have learned that a sense of humor (read: laughing at yourself) always helps.
   
   Failure is inevitable. There is so much to learn through every failure.
   

2. The meaning of the phrase “You do you.”
   My yoga teacher, Jennifer, says “you do you” throughout the classes she teaches. Regardless of what others are doing or how far they can bend, I am reminded to “you do you” throughout my practices. I do not need to keep up with others or force myself to do something that may be harmful to my body. I don’t need to do something just because others are doing it. I do me.
   
   The phrase “you do you” reminds me that it is all about progress; it is not about perfection. In fact, through yoga, I have come to believe that imperfection is perfect. It is not about striving for a perfect practice (there is no such thing). It is about showing up every day as my trustest most authentic self.
   

3. To value silence.
   Each yoga class is time away from work, my screens (iPhone, iPad, computers), the news, the negativity of social media, and all of the sounds of our noisy world. There is great beauty in the silence. I have come to crave the silence and calmness I experience on the mat.
   

4. Sometimes I need support.
   At the end of one of the hardest classes with my teacher Tara, she insisted that we all complete a supported bridge pose. In this pose, a block or bolster is used to support your hips. As we were all getting into the pose, Tara told us (I’m convinced she was talking directly to me) that doing a supported bridge was a reminder that sometimes we need the help and support of others in our day-to-day lives. Even though we can muscle or push through a pose or activity, sometimes we need to do things with ease and with the support of others. She encouraged us to ease into the pose that day and find comfort in the support. What a lesson…!!

Through yoga, I have also made a wonderful group of friends. My local yoga studio opens its doors to everyone. There is a lovely group of people who come together to move and breathe together in community. Lindsey, the owner of the studio and one of my teachers and sweet friends, has created an environment where everyone is welcome and friendships are born.

Yoga is one of the ways I am working to build healthy communities.

And as a cherry on top — David, my sweet husband, has been going to yoga with me. Finding something that we can both do and enjoy doing together is beautiful.

Yoga is about physical and mental health as well as building a supportive community. I want to encourage everyone reading this to go to a class. Give it a try. And if you are local and want to go to a class with me, let’s do it! And in the words of my teacher Lindsey, let’s —

“Creating connection through breath and movement.”