When I started teaching yoga almost four years ago, one of the most immediate urges I had was to get my butt back into therapy. I didn't have the clarity of mind to know why, I just knew I needed it. At my first session back, I told my therapist that I had been really tired, working all day teaching yoga, which I loved, but between my friends who were in my class and my roommate and my friends who didn't take my class and my boyfriend at the time, and me, I was TIRED. "Well, of course," she said, "you're a healer now. Its the same rule when you're a healer as when you're on an airplane: you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on someone else." And from that point on, there's been only one thing that I am absolutely sure of, if I don't take really good care of myself, no one is going to get taken care of!
I also have many friends who are healers and we all struggle to find a way to have our full time jobs, to enjoy this incredible city with all of its incredible people, and to take care of ourselves, and it's always interesting to watch which one of these priorities flies out of the window first. I think that bit iss different for each of us.
My oxygen mask is many different things: it's my therapist, healthy food, plenty of water, taking class, the students who spend time in class with me, all of my amazing teachers and friends. But most of all my oxygen mask is my breath, my sitting practice, which has become so sacred to me. Without that quiet time that I have to myself every morning...I wouldn't even know how to take care of myself. Without it, I don't think I would know who I really am (my breath) versus the stuff that my life is made of (everything else). It is where I get all of my most valuable information, and where I go to get inspiration from that never-ending well of my inhale and my exhale.
If you don't already have a sitting practice, I CANNOT recommend it enough (all of my friends can vouch, I'm like, "talk to the hand until you sit on your butt"). All you need is you, a comfortable seat (a bolster or a few yoga blankets) and a kitchen timer. Start by setting your timer to 10 minutes. Just WATCH as all your stuff comes up and PRACTICE knowing that all that stuff is not you. You are infinite, beautiful, peaceful beyond peaceful--and how would you ever know it without stopping to notice?
Namaste!
