Sometimes, we don't know how much we needed to slow down and relax until we actually take a few minutes to do so. And then, in those minutes when the phone isn't ringing and the computer is turned off and we are just being still, we realize, "Hot Damn! I am wound up tighter than a new yo-yo!"
It is so easy to get caught up in the hurried, stressed pace of every day. Of work. Of deadlines. Of kids' soccer practices and other family engagements. This week -- coming at the end of the year and at the start of the peak of holiday season -- I felt in some moments like my head might just pop off.
Being fit and healthy is as much about wellness and balance as it is about muscle tone and body fat percentage. Stress disrupts the balance we seek. It builds up over time and makes our shoulders tense, our brows furrowed. It knots up our stomachs and turns us into seratonin-seeking Carb Munchers who try to soothe our frazzled nerves with donuts and chips. And there is no wellness in that.
So last night, as the sun fell and the temperature dipped, I sought stillness and refuge from the previous hours and days. Sure enough, 15 minutes into the hot yoga class I realized, "Wow. I really really needed this." I needed, and found, peace on my yoga mat. I found power and a new energy to take on these final days of 2009.
It soothes my spirit in a way I can't quite describe. The noise of the world sort of falls away and I feel more focused, more calm. I meditate. I pray. I am reminded of what matters.
Your stillness doesn't have to come through yoga. Maybe it's an hour in a quiet room with a book. Maybe your Zen is a 15-minute walk on the beach or through your favorite park. Whatever. Just make it your time, and make time for it.
Jessa, the teacher at my yoga studio, plays great chill-out music in the background as we move from downward dog to tree poses to toe stands and back to downward dog.
So here is a playlist for your Zen Time. Be well, Badasses: Remember to enjoy the stillness every now and again...
- Sleep Through the Static, Jack Johnson
- That's the Way Love Goes, Janet Jackson
- Don't Panic, Coldplay
- In the Waiting Line, Zero 7
- Badagry Beach, Ben Onono
- Take Off Your Cool, Andre 3000 with Norah Jones
- Let You Down, Dave Matthews Band
- Breathe, Telepopmusik
- Soul Meets Body, Death Cab for Cutie
- Down to the River, Alison Krause
- Cold Wind, Arcade Fire
- Baby, Bebel Gilberto
- Breathe, Sia
Coming Up: Helping a new teacher and grad student fit fitness into her crazy schedule.
