Keep your eyes on your own mat (Or “and the winner is…”)

I was in yoga this morning, and I found myself up in the front of the room. It’s been described by my teacher as “where the magic happens” — but of course we all have days when we resist being in the front of the class, don’t we? But some days we need a little magic. I actually loved it today. I found that I was really able to focus and had a much better time not being able to see too many of the other lovely ladies in my class. And therefore was able to focus more on my own experience.

If you are into yoga or into self-development or just don’t have your head buried in the sand all the time, you have probably heard the expression “Keep your eyes on your own mat.”

This expression has more meaning than just the literal, though it does have much power in that explicit meaning — if you are in a balancing pose, for instance, you need to keep your eyes on something fixed, it does not help to gaze at the others around you, in their wobbly stances much like your 0wn; as quickly as you glance at them, their wobble becomes your wobble and then it’s all over. No, you must gaze upon a fixed point in the distance. Not too far in the distance, but just far enough to draw you up and out and up and into the balance you know you have inside of you.

Another meaning is to focus on your experience, don’t compare to others. Don’t check out what and how they are doing. Keep your eyes on your own experience. On your own body and spirit. On your breath. We aren’t in a competition, we are in a practice (as in life), and we are taking it one step, one minor adjustment of course at a a time. And the experience, our own experience, is really what matters anyway, right?

At least that’s how I read it. Maybe you have a different interpretation? I’d love to hear it.

And in other news, in, admittedly, a type of competition, the winner of the calendar giveaway is Suzi! I hope we can meet for coffee and a calendar delivery (or at yoga class?!), since we are local pals — Suzi, do get in touch to claim your prize!

I must share with you that Suzi writes a wonderful blog over at laundrylinedivine.com – I do hope you will go check it out. All about motherhood and womanhood and daughterhood and writing and art and joy and hope and “celebrating the sacred in daily life”. She is a delight, an inspiration and a talented writer and artist (and she has a book or two coming out soon! Keep your eyes peeled!). Congrats, Suzi!