Hasn't fall been beautiful? The weather, the spectacular sunsets (the pic is from last night), the falling leaves...it's definitely one of my favorite times of the year. It's also my busiest time, as it is for many people. Working and teaching seven yoga classes a week keeps me hopping but I love it so much that it never feels like "too much" if you know what I mean. If it ever starts feeling that way, I will scale back. For now, life feels happily "full" but not unmanageably so.

And in addition to teaching all those classes, I have a standing appointment with myself every Tuesday to take a class from this teacher. This is "me" time and it's one of the highlights of my week. I close my eyes, breathe, and flow through the movements, giving myself permission to do only what feels right for my body, and taking time to rest when I need to.

This brings me to the theme of this post - showing up for yourself. If you read the title and thought I was going to guilt anybody into coming to class, think again. There are a few reasons you should definitely skip yoga class (or whatever else you are feeling pressured to do):

1. You're feeling unwell (I know, obviously).
2. You have an injury that will make your regular class too difficult. In this case, talk to me about it, as I can often adjust the class so you are comfortable or suggest an alternative class - maybe restorative is the class for you this week!
3. Someone who depends on you needs your presence. Sometimes our people just need us at home. This is a balancing act, because we can only show up for our people if we take care of ourselves, right? If you feel you need your practice but must stay home, one option is to switch to the Zoom class and practice from home instead. Win-win!
4. You simply have a conflict. No problem! I absolutely don't mind if you have to cancel your class, for any reason. This is exactly WHY I don't sell classes as "sessions" where you sign up for 10 and pay for 10 and if you miss a week, you're out of luck. My class passes don't expire for a year, so there is plenty of opportunity to use your pass whenever it fits your schedule.

As you might expect, my list of reasons you might NOT want to skip yoga class is going to be a bit longer;)

1. You are feeling unmotivated - I get it, I really do. Sometimes you have to force yourself out the door. Recently, I've committed to an outdoor walk 5x a week, and it is a struggle most days for me to get out there. But I never regret being out in nature, and it has such a positive effect on my overall outlook. Just like yoga!
2. You didn't enjoy the last class - again, talk to me about it. My style of teaching will not be for everybody, or maybe it's simply that the style of class you signed up for wasn't what you expected. I can suggest a class that you might enjoy more, or recommend another teacher. I won't be offended, I promise! I would rather you continue with yoga than quit altogether because my class wasn't a good fit for you.
3. You injured yourself in one of my classes. Firstly, please let me know if you hurt yourself - I want to know how you are! I also learn from my students - if you injured yourself in my class, I need to know so I can adjust my approach. If you simply pushed yourself beyond your "edge" (we have all done this) then it's a good reminder for me to increase the emphasis on students listening to their bodies. And finally, if you are injured I can definitely offer modifications for you until you have recovered from your injury.
4. You worry you're not flexible enough. This is one of the myths of yoga - that you need to be flexible. Nothing could be further from the truth. The purpose of yoga is not even about the poses. It is to provide a space (the exact dimensions of your yoga mat) where you connect with YOU. That might involve lying on your back in Savasana for 60 minutes. It might involve doing whatever your body feels like doing on any particular day. It might be breathing deeply, in and out, with your eyes closed, in child's pose - or lying on your back with your knees hugged into your chest, if child's pose hurts your knees. The point is there are no "rules" in yoga - it is your practice.
5. You feel like everyone else in the class can do the poses better than you can. See #3. There is no perfect pose. The student who is hyper-flexible is actually more likely to suffer an injury by pushing themselves beyond their limits. As long as you are feeling sensation - be it a gentle stretch, your muscles contracting, or some compression in your joints - you are doing great. Also, NO ONE is watching your practice (except me, the instructor). Yoga is about connecting your breath to your movement and quieting the chatter in your mind - which is impossible to do if you are looking around at other people.
6. You haven't come to class in weeks and feel like you've missed too much. Nope - my classes are ongoing and you can join in anytime. Drop-ins are always welcome, too. Just check the schedule to see if there is room in the class or reach out to me. Gone are the days of packing people into classes like sardines, which is a good thing!
7. You struggle with the opening meditation and savasana - it's too quiet, too still, too boring. This, my friend, is exactly why you SHOULD come to yoga class. Learning to use your breath to find stillness and bring calm to your mind and body will improve your health. I often recommend my Yin/Restorative class to these types of folks - they are the ones who struggle the most but also benefit from it the most. If you are constantly buzzing around in fight-or-flight mode your body is producing excess cortisol (the stress hormone) which is detrimental to your health. Learning to bring about your body's own "relaxation response" reduces not only your cortisol levels but your blood pressure, heart rate, and overall stress levels.
8. You don't want to go alone. I feel this, as I still remember walking into my very first yoga class by myself and being horrified all the spots in the back were taken. It can feel like everyone knows everyone else, especially in rooms where chatting is allowed before class begins. Whenever I see a new student sitting uncomfortably on their mat waiting for class to begin, I feel their pain! Here's the thing: yoga is not meant to be a social hour. It is perfectly normal, acceptable, and encouraged for you to enter class, unroll your mat, and lie down until the teacher begins. Do some stretches, close your eyes, and just relax. This is YOUR time, from the minute you walk through the door.
9. You are tired and afraid you might fall asleep. This actually happens, and your yoga teacher loves it - it's validation that you are relaxed in her class! Especially in Yin/Restorative, if someone's not having a snooze at any given time I feel like I've not done my job.
10. You are tired and feel like simply chilling with Netflix. See #1 - how much better are you likely to feel AFTER yoga? Netflix will still be there, but your body - and mind - will be in a much better place.
11. You are suffering from depression or anxiety. I understand this and I have been where you are. Yoga is not a cure-all for everything, and if you are suffering from depression I will be the first to recommend you talk to your doctor and seek help. But yoga can be part of your recovery journey, for sure. It was for me and still is. Learning to breathe deeply and mindfully is transformative. If you're not ready to try a class, I can help you with some breathing techniques that might be useful.

There are probably lots of other reasons people do or don't decide to come to yoga class, I've just touched on some of the ones I hear most frequently. And if you're simply stuck in a rut (as one student described to me this week), I get it. It's just something you need to work through. If I can help, let me know. If not, I'll see you when I see you.

If you've managed to read this far, I'll leave you with this piece, by Scott Stabile. I shared it with my Yin/Restorative class this week, and it resonated with me deeply.

Just show up, as you are. You don’t have to look or feel great. You don’t have to be prepared for each challenge or know all the hows of every situation. You don’t have to be fearless, or have all the answers, or be 100% ready. Nobody is any of these things. Nobody ever was. It’s not about being perfect at all. You just have to show up, as you are, despite all the objections and insecurities of your mind, despite each and every fear that threatens to hold you back, despite the limitations and criticisms other will place on you. The hell with it all. This is your life, your journey, your adventure, and all it’s asking of you is to show up for it, as you are. That’s enough. That’s more than enough. That’s everything.

Namaste,

Lynne