this one day

I woke today with a single intention. Attend an early morning yoga class. Friends, it's been since last Sunday. What's kept me from my practice? Dinner parties. Chores. Rainstorms. And frankly, a lack of expendable funds.

This morning, however, I needed a fix. My shoulder was tight and nudgy. My hips were creaky. My knees crunchy. My mind frazzled. Yes, indeed, it was time to start the day, for me. Not wake for work. Not wake with thoughts of the day's tasks. Simply wake before dawn. Rinse sleep away with a warming shower. Start the day in the studio, mindful only of what my body and mind need at that very moment. Acknowledging the beauty and benefit of each posture. Regaining that wholesome feeling of being.

There were moments of struggle. There were times when I took a step down from my usual performance. There was a moment when I regained familiar strength. There were shaky legs and tender, tight hip joints. I did not dwell on any of it. I just flowed as best I could. Today.

Oftentimes, at the beginning of the week, I keep a mental log of the practice schedule I'd like to follow for that week. Rarely am I able to fulfill my own request. Today, I started with today. This morning, to be more exact. With the pressure of my expectations released, I could fully take in this one class. Focus on just this one class.

Whether you are a seasoned yogi, a beginner, or someone considering stepping into the studio for the first time---all of us may benefit from breaking away from our own expectations. Begin instead with one class. Arrive at your mat. Discover who you are, today. Realize. Appreciate. Relish.