AYGMyJune2015

ESSAY

omom

There is so much I don’t know about

yoga and so much I feel I’ll never

understand. There are parts I wonder

if I need to learn and parts I wonder

how to. I don’t do the vegan thing,

nor the vegetarian thing; not clean or

raw or even organic. I love meat and

wine and sugar, and believe ignorance

is bliss. I don’t get chakras or meridians.

Shy away from chanting and “Oms”.

I’m terribly judgemental and

unforgiving especially of myself,

and when they tell me to wish

Catching the

yoga bug A new yogi’s experience

and happier after each class. Calmer

and more in love with this yoga thing.

I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not

good at yoga. I battle with it and I get

mad at it, yet, it would seem I’m becoming

it’s number one fan. My panic attacks aren’t

as frequent or severe, I’m not as frazzled

or stressed, my back and bowels always

thank me for it, as does my mind and soul.

I cope better with life’s curveballs and

I’m strangely more content. I’m mindful.

I’m aware. I’m happy. I breathe deeply.

I self-correct my negative thinking and my

terrible posture without even realising it.

It’s infiltrating my life like a disease, only

it’s the best disease I’ve ever had! It’s

spreading, it’s contagious, destroying

burdens, tension and stress.

It lifts my heavy heart. It silences the

relentless worry. And it energises my

weary soul. Like it or not, I end up standing

taller, breathing deeper and walking

slower. I see the fullness of life around me.

I can hear the distant song despite the

roaring chaos. I will love this minute. And

this minute. And this minute. I will discover

the hidden me. And I will like it. I am

realising the most important lesson in life,

and that is – I am enough. Even with my

imperfections, failures past, present and

all those in the future, I am enough.

So while I have a long way to go, much

to learn and much to face. I know I also

have much to gain. And I’m thankful for

this yoga bug, for latching on and accepting

me. For teaching me to accept myself, as

messy and complicated as I am.

By Jen Miller

peace and happiness on my mortal

enemy, I wholeheartedly refuse.

I’m not limber of mind or body, and

am so unbalanced I cause others to fall.

I have no clue what “Namaste” means

or what an asana really is. And when

I’m guided gently out of meditation –

I’m usually having a tantrum in my

head. But despite my uncouth, awkward,

embarrassing new yoga relationship,

it’s raw, it’s real and I’m better for it.

In fact it would seem I’m perfect for

it. Without a doubt I walk away

content, challenged

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24

may/june 2015

yogajournal.com.au

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Re not paid; stoR

ies may be edited.

ILL

uSTr

ATION: NATALIA SkrI

pk

O/

ShuTTEr

STOCk.COM

yj43_17-26_Om.indd 24 31/03/2015 8:42 am