By Gabrielle Maurer

An honest struggle of mine is that I often get caught in a cycle of saying, "I'll do Yoga when I have more energy," or, "I am way too stressed to sit down and do Yoga." The irony is that Yoga is a practice I know brings me more energy, helps regulate my mind, and even makes me more productive in other areas of life. So why is it so hard for me, and so many students I've talked with, to get on the mat? 

This question has led me to realize that it is less about Yoga and more about how we approach ourselves when life gets difficult. 

So many things in life get pushed down our priority list for similar reasons. I'll respond to that email when I'm less stressed, but maybe that email is part of what's causing the stress. I'll spend time with my friend when I have more energy, but maybe that's exactly the boost I need right now. 

The truth is, a dysregulated mind isn't always best at making decisions that support our long-term well-being. When we're overwhelmed, our body and mind are often wired to seek immediate relief and comfort rather than what will ultimately help us most. That makes it surprisingly easy for the mind to come up with perfectly reasonable explanations for putting off the very things that would benefit us. 

Maybe it's the idea that you're not going to have the best practice today because you're too stressed or dysregulated. Maybe it's because you have an ever-growing to-do list and your mind is convinced there is a better use of your time. It's easy to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset when it doesn't have to be that way. 

When we set expectations of perfection or consistency, missing the mark even a little can begin to feel like failure. When our mind creates one very specific definition of success, it closes us off to all the other ways success might actually look. 

Yoga has a way of quietly changing that definition. Mat-based practice isn't meant to be a show of your best self. It's an opportunity to show up for yourself the best you can. Yoga isn't rewarding performance or achievement; it's cultivating presence with yourself. 

Over time, the way we learn to respond to ourselves during practice can begin to shape the way we respond to ourselves everywhere else. Most of us know, at least intellectually, that life isn't perfect and that we aren't meant to be perfect either. But that doesn't stop feelings of overwhelm, disappointment, or frustration from showing up when life doesn't go the way we hoped. 

While we can't control everything happening around us, and sometimes emotions arise before we have the chance to even think about them, we can choose how we respond. When we consciously choose to show up for ourselves and gently shift our perspective, things can begin to change. 

Maybe showing up means allowing your mind to wander, allowing your legs to shake, and letting go of the need to chase full expression in every pose. Maybe it means reminding yourself that caring for your nervous system is actually the best use of your time because it allows you to approach everything else from a healthier starting place. Or maybe you're in a season where time truly is limited, so instead of doing nothing, you choose a short meditation or a few gentle stretches. 

More than once, I have chosen to do some stretches in bed rather than a full-length practice on my mat, and it always makes me feel just a little bit better on the days when I don't have much more in me. Meeting yourself where you are today is not settling or compromising. It is where sustainable and transformative practices are built. 

The ironic cycle of waiting until we're ready to start doing the things that help us feel ready is a difficult one to break. But every time you interrupt that cycle, it loses a little more of its control. 

Every time we step onto the mat imperfectly, we're practicing how we want to approach life off the mat. So wherever you are today, I invite you to simply begin there, not where you hope to be tomorrow.