Cultivating Stillness

"Paper On The Wall" by Emil Robinson, 2008, oil on panel

Over the past few weeks I've come across a new discovery in my own practice. It seems completely obvious, but I think it's taken me this long to come to the realization that often, coming onto the mat--no matter what time of day it is--is usually the first time that I've found stillness in my body all day long. I've realized that from the time that I wake up until the time that I go to bed, I'm usually moving--even if it's just my hands that are moving as they type, or my head and hands moving as I drive. Isn't that crazy?

Sometimes I'll come onto my mat for class at 7pm and as I settle into my body for centering I'll realize, "wow, being still is such a relief! I haven't been still ALL day!" So why aren't we still more often in our lives? And I don't mean exhausted-on-the-couch-watching-TV-completely-zoned-out-still, but still as in being present, being in the body, and taking deep breaths while not doing anything else. I teach my students to do this all day long, so why am I not spending more time in stillness?

I realize that this is one of the reasons that I love yoga so much, because it is a set amount of time  each day that I allow myself to be okay with being still, with being present, with not having to be anywhere else or think about anything else. Isn't that why a number of us are drawn to yoga? It's one of the only places that I can't access my phone, my email, my to-do list. But why don't I make more time off of my yoga mat, in my daily life, to allow myself to be still, or to be present?
 
So, as of today, my new goal is to find stillness twice per day--even if it's only for 5 minutes each time (I'm being realistic here and not trying to set goals that I will never reach). I may choose to spend my stillness in pigeon pose or legs-up-the-wall (post about this pose coming later this week...another pose I can't get enough of!), but I will be still twice per day. I'll let you know how it's going after a week or so :)

"My Bedroom" by Emil Robinson, 2009, oil on panel, 28"x22"

By the way, I've included paintings by Emil Robinson, one of my favorite painters (who also graduated from Centre College!). To me, a number of his paintings contain this feeling of meditative stillness, so I had to pair them with this post. To peruse his work, see his website here.

My challenge to you? Find stillness when you usually don't. Close your eyes at your desk and sit still, taking deep breaths and just being. Go outside for lunch, find a nice place to sit on the grass, and again, be still, enjoying the sounds, sights, and sensory experience of everything around you. Come into legs-up-the wall and just breathe there, enjoying how the pose feels in your body. Just. Be. Still.

(Oh, and sleeping doesn't count :)

Ahhhhhh... I'm looking forward to it already...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine