The constant battle with one’s body image pulls us in so many directions.
Do we cede to the images on social/mainstream media of how we should look?
Hardly. These bought and paid for opinions directed towards us seek to make us lighter, yes, but in pocket only. It truly is a mind game – one of perceptions.
What’s needed is honesty and that is the hardest part of our whole life.
So what’s stopping me from getting up early and going for that run or ride?
The answers are many but how true are they? The cold hard facts are I have allowed laziness and apathy to replace, enthusiasm, desire and commitment.
Sure, they used to be there but just allowing a single bump in the road to throw me off my path is a testament to my weakness of spirit and betrayal to my entire being.
Having recently qualified as a yoga instructor, I have learned – and am still learning – more about myself and the veils I have used over the years to deflect from the work I need to apply to myself before I can truly be of help to others.
Our truth is hard, it’s uncomfortable
I have a long way to go on this journey, but what’s clear is the need to find inner peace. I was not aware I had a yoga instructor inside of me – that would never have been a conversation between my friends and I – I just hadn’t given it a thought.
However, I’ve always been drawn to the easy-going persona and one who – although far from being perfect – isn’t comfortable being judgemental towards others. I am, however, extremely awesome at being self-judgemental and that is where my work needs to start. We all carry baggage, from childhood, teen years, adulthood, we carry it. Some maybe less than others. It maybe that our picture/story becomes clearer with age as we have the maturity to address our
skeletons in the closet. Finding our truth is hard, it’s uncomfortable – occasionally there may be some light-hearted episodes – but it can also shed light on the darkness of the soul. Our soul thrives on light yet through our modern lifestyles we have covered and smothered it with veils and facades – ably supported by our egos and presented as our personalities.
I wouldn’t say it was embarrassing, nor ugly, but it was moving, surprising, incredibly deep and profound. I was in a Gentle yoga class with one of my favourite teachers (she co-owns with her partner). She’s very spiritual, authentic and raw – anyhow, I’m in a supine posture when I suddenly felt an overwhelming flood of tears in my eyes. Conscious of my surroundings, I didn’t want to disturb anybody but also knew it was safe to express what was coming up. This was about two months before the same studio ran a teacher training course which my wife encouraged me to sign-up for (I previously had not even considered myself as a yoga instructor). From the moment I signed up, I’ve never doubted my decision and have questioned why it’s taken me so long in my life to find out what I should’ve known for so long. That is only part of my story.
Humbly
Tony
TG FIT 