Excuses, Excuses
January 4, 2007Now that I’ve committed to daily practice, it’s become abundantly clear to me just how lame most of my excuses for not practicing are.
I don’t have a good space. Well, all you need is space for a yoga mat, and you don’t really even need that to do some basic poses.
I can’t practice on carpet. This has been one of my biggies. I really don’t care to practice on carpet because it makes me feel wobbly, but when it comes down to it, it can be done.
I’m sleepy. Well, that’s good; that means either a) you’ll feel energized after you practice, or b) you’ll have a really awesome savasana.
My kids need my attention. That’s good too. If the kids are really little, they can be a sandbag on your back in Baddha Konasana or Paschimottanasana. If they’re a bit older, they’ll either join in for a while or decide there are much more interesting things to do around the house. My daughter even likes to follow along in David Swenson’s book as I practice and correct my form.
I’m hungry. So practice, then eat. No one ever starved in an hour.
I’m too full. So wait 30 minutes, then practice.
I don’t want to get all sweaty and have to take a shower. That’s another one of my favorites. But I can do a slower, gentler practice and not sweat as much, or I can skip the shower, just clean up a bit, keep the hair in a ponytail all day and look sporty and youthful.
What are some of your most common excuses not to practice?
1. I have too much stuff to do and if I don’t do it, no one else will.
2. If I practice in the morning, I’m mean as a snake at night and I’m neglecting my responsibilities to my husband.
3. If I practice in the evening, I’m neglecting my daughter, my husband, and my duties as the Sole Housekeeper (see excuse #1.)
4. The conference room at the plant is being used and I can’t find anywhere else to practice before I have to pick up my daughter. (So far not an issue, but I’m sure it will come up eventually.)
oh and were we supposed to come up with responses to the excuses? er… haven’t gotten that far yet.
The hungry/just eaten one is my personal favorite. Though it is possible to practice in either situation, its just the quality of the practice that may or may not suffer.
This definitely brings out my perfectionism…every practice needs to be the perfect one! Some good practice with letting go here.
My biggest excuse was that I didn’t have enough ‘private’ space. We live in a tiny apartment, you see. I talked it over with my husband and he now goes into the bedroom, with the laptop, and leaves me alone until I’m done.
Currently my favorite excuse is that I’m sick. So far I’m continuing to practice by doing gentle twists, cat and cow, and lots of meditation. What do other people do when you are sick? First I had a stomachy virus thingie, and now I have a head cold. Bummer.
1. I don’t want to get out of bed.
I’m working on this one. Got up at 7am did my yoga practice, went for a nature walk, meditation by a babbling brook. Very rewarding.
When I was living in an apartment with carpeted floors, I cut a sheet of wood down to my Yoga mat size and sanded it smooth. It worked beautifully! I have had a great first five days of NaYoPracMo…not listening to any excuses of my own. It feels good!
I have several favorite excuses or, sometimes, I don’t even have a good excuse. I just don’t practice.
My current biggie is practicing on carpet. It is the ONLY space I have and I hate hate hate it. It isn’t easy to practice on carpet. I have my mat spread out but it gets all bunched up and moves around something fierce.
I also use just-eating as an excuse too.
It is funny that you mentioned being too sleepy. I find that I’m even more sleepy after my practice. Sometimes when I am finished practicing, I can barely hold my eyes open. I wonder what that is about??
Hungry, just eaten. Dealing with tantrum, about to deal with tantrum, partner has just cooked and it’ll go cold, all of the above simultaneously, two hour window to get everything done between work and going to bed…
Yesterday’s excuse, when I finally missed even a small session after six successful days, was essay writing. Still, at least that one won’t be valid for the rest of the month.
Hanumasana. Just looked at the picture. Impressive!