success is in the stretch

I am doing a lot of stretching these days, both literally and figuratively. I am stretching beyond my comfort zones to live into the dreams that light me up, to surpass regret's grips and experience success in new ways. With all of the change and transition I am in, I felt a nudge to get back into a meditation/ movement practice. Tada - the handy dandy yoga has made a resurgence in my daily routine. in 2013 I completed my yoga teacher training with Shy Sayar in Thailand. It was then that yoga became more than an option for exercise and a challenge to balance. It became paramount for me, a doorway into peacefully meeting anything that came, a play date with myself, a silent therapy session, a way of life. The reminders from the mat (or kitchen floor, or wherever you decide to practice) are simple and so profound. Breathe, really breathe. Get back to basics and return here often. Start from the ground up. Keep the goal in mind then get back to here and now. Use inner alignment as the foundation. Fuck the outer shape, what's outside doesn't necessarily represent whats happening inside. Stretch into your new capacity. Lean beyond your comfort zone slowly. Take your time (but keep going). I could talk about this for pages and ages. Yoga is a metaphor for so much. Whether you've practiced yoga or not, stick with me. Maybe take this as an opportunity to Google a few moves or even try out an online video. This could be one of those life changing, before and after moments you've been dreaming of. 

The success I have sought on the mat is not so different than what I imagine for other areas of my life. Defining success for ourselves opens the doorways to get there. (Tweet Tweet)

Success comes from consistently surpassing what was a previous glass ceiling, accepted limitation, or comfort zone. Every time I exhale into downward facing dog, a pose that challenges me still, I breathe into the crunchy or sore spaces, align with my inner shape {heels back, tail bone toward the back wall, lower ribs toward the spine...}, then breathe further into the moment. I find my edge and allow the combination of inner and outer forces to bring me just beyond it. I choose to stick with myself no matter what. Not pushing or forcing, simply breathing and allowing, this is how radical shifts happen. This is how I finally got my heels the ground while maintaining integrity in my upper body for down dog (maybe insignificant to you and a big, I mean a big deal, for me).  I let the thoughts moving through my mind move out with every exhale as I stretch myself beyond the confines of thinking or a tight muscle. I allow what is to be to the best of my ability and willingness (acceptance is the answer to all my perceived problems after all) and question the status quo with curiosity, keeping my commitment to growth front and center. 

I stretch into success on the mat the same way I do off the mat. After years of being MIA from a consistent practice, I am returning to this meditative movement with sheer delight, plenty of aggravation, some vulnerability and a fair amount of sweat. It isn't easy to face limitations and stay centered with myself. The temptation to stop breathing and force an outcome I want is there with tenacity. The inner dialogue tempts me to quit, walk out, swear at the people I could compare myself to remains between the moments of blissed out breathing. This being said, I want to grow more than I don't, which means facing the discomfort and sticking with the simple steps to self mastery. That is my brief definition of success. Growing involves discomfort and risk taking. It also requires a commitment to practicing the basics and letting the elaborate attachment to image go. I might not look like the toned and tight lulu lemon wearing yogini next to me. I might get antsy and want to hurry up and get "there" already. These surface deep distractions will come and they will go. As important or appealing as they seem to be, they don't ultimately matter. 

What matters is that I keep stretching. Keep breathing. Keep asking and answering the right questions so I am aligned with my core values, what really matters to me. From here I will know the next step to take; likely it will involve something simple I need to practice a bit more of. Successful stretching implies courage, requires tapping into your bad ass self and trusting that small moves make a difference. 

Where is your current edge? What do you sense is living just beyond where you've halted, stalled or stopped? How might slowing down, breathing in, exhaling comparison and taking one move just beyond where you've become familiar change your entire reality? It's not about getting "there" and staying there, wherever there is for you. I don't strike the most amazing down dog ever and stay there just because I don't want to lose it. I lean or slump out of it then attempt again. Such is the life, right? The willingness to wobble, stumble, even tip over and look silly is where flexibility grows and success is bred. Take a lesson from the pages of this kitchen floor practicing yogini's book if you dare: breathe (I mean really breathe), discover the basics that will keep you safe, stable and satisfied, then stretch from there. 

Need a nudge to get beyond your comforte zone? Not sure what basics will set you up for success? Reach out to me for individual support or sign up to get WOW posts sent straight to you. 

Darcy