During a challenging hot vinyasa class today, my teacher reminded us to embrace our mess without embarrassment, especially when things become challenging. And then, she said, focus on the exhalation.

Woah,

I gave myself the freedom to wobble from time to time, and even to be distracted for a few moments, which is the opposite of what I usually strive for. But then, integrating myself back into the present moment felt

sacred -

like leaving home, taking a chance, then dropping into familiar ground.

We cannot expect perfection until we are vulnerable to failure.

These days I’ve been rock climbing, which like yoga, is a very mindful, poetic and rigorous athletic practice. While climbing, my instructor told me that if I don’t fall at least 3 times, then I’m not challenging myself enough. I felt the same ignition of pursual that I feel while practicing yoga. I fell 5 times and then my mind connected, I felt my breath, and I grasped the top of the wall.

Yoga- to stay in a place (or posture) for long enough to focus the mind on the breath.

In all mindful practices, I discover familiar ground within myself, especially when I fail and try again.

Now, how does this idea of embracing mess, complication, and failure translate to life off of the yoga mat, or away from the rock wall..?

Well… sometimes in life ‘shit happens’

your car gets towed,

you’re late to work,

you spill coffee all over your favorite yoga pants…

Take a deep breath…

Be messy and complicated

… and

Show up anyways.