The Space Between

A little more space tends to make us more comfortable. Whether it’s the wider seat in an airplane, or a wider toe box in our shoes - it’s nice to have a little more room.

Yoga is all about finding space. Space in your body to stand taller and in your joints to bend with more ease. Space for your breath to be full and open, rather than shallow and constricted. Interestingly, finding one bit of space in our bodies can help us to open our minds as well, and make space for new ideas or perspectives (ex: “that’s what the studio looks like upside down!”, or “Wow, maybe I can touch my toes!”)

A lack of space in the body or the mind can also have the opposite effect. Hanging on tightly to old thought or body patterns can keep progress from being made elsewhere. I’ve had many people tell me they don’t do yoga because they are not flexible… and so they remain.

Obviously there are many open minded people who don’t practice yoga on the mat. I’m guessing, however, that there is a practice some where in their lives that helps them to find space.

Any space also has boundaries - and we have to be conscious of what we let into our space.. and what we keep out. Because once we get some space we often want to fill it up! I remember moving from our small 3 bedroom house into our current home - big closets, a full basement - so much storage! Didn’t take long to fill it all up… Clutter happens. Sit too long and your body will fill up that space in your hips with shorter stickier fascia. “Mind clutter” also happens - in Yoga it is called Avidya - fear, aversion, selfishness, ignorance things that literally keep us from seeing the expansive space that we have.

Lately, I have become judicious about how much of the news I let into my space. Being mindful of how much room I have for it and the emotions it brings up. Knowing that it can begin to crowd out all other thoughts, tighten up my shoulders, or give me a headache - and then I’m in no shape to change anything or help anyone. My internal space needs to be free of clutter! I can note an emotion (anger, fear, loathing, heck even joy), emotions make me pay attention, but I don’t need to let that emotion stay and clutter up my space. I don’t need to fly into action or ruminate myself into inaction. Being unsure is a fine open place to be for a bit. This clear space might feel too big and hard to hold at first, but it gives me time to choose how to react or whether to react. Maybe I’ll practice a balancing pose and get used to being a bit shaky. With any space I open, whether in my hips or in my head, I try to remind myself to be discerning with what fills it - my space is sacred.

Maybe the space we make leaves room for more possibilities… or maybe, like the bigger seat on the airplane, having space makes us more comfortable to stretch out, be open and be ourselves.

Come to the studio this week and we can practice together - feeling wobbly, and being open to the infinite possibilities. It’s a practice.

  See You on the Mat!