Unicorns and Yoga
The other day in yoga, I noticed how a pose I used to do was no longer available to me. I find myself suddenly needing a sip of water whenever it’s called :) Yoga teachers will often encourage the need to be present in class and in your body, to pay attention to what feels right for you that day and in each moment. Typically my mind (the competitive side!) takes over to remind me I have done this pose before. It usually wins, and I push myself. The other day, however, I chose differently. And what came up was a powerful reminder that growth is rarely linear. Although that one pose is tricky right now, I have learned several others in the last few months, so maybe my body is learning how to do all three of those now, not just the one.
Oftentimes I find myself frustrated as a mom when my kids appear to be ‘regressing’ in some way. They used to eat avocados! They used to sleep through the night! Why aren’t they doing these things now? Their growth isn’t always linear either. What might appear to be a step backward in one area may be a step or two forward somewhere else.
My greatest ideas and most vivid thoughts, such as this one, occur during yoga. For me, the practice is so much more than physical exercise. It’s an integration of my mind, body and spirit that leaves me feeling aligned, connected with myself and even sparks creativity. I share this because I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how creativity is starting to show up in my life. I’ve never considered myself a creative person. Even as early as 2 months ago, I would not have described myself as a creative person or even someone who has creative ideas! Recently, I was listening to the Momwell podcast episode with Eve Rodsky who was discussing her books “Fair Play” and “Find Your Unicorn Space.” While I haven’t read either book yet, I was intrigued to hear her expand on her idea the equal distribution of household labour: Dividing up the invisible load of household management is a key first step (from her book “Fair Play”) in helping mothers(re)discover themselves beyond their role of mom. What that then makes space for is the ability to pursue an interest or hobby, which can lead to powerful self discoveries that help women rediscover themselves. She goes on to say that getting a mani instead of doing daycare pick-up isn’t going to necessarily help you feel more inspired or connected to yourself; it’s important that that time and space be used to pursue creativity and connection. And that’s what yoga is for me - a space where I feel the most connected with myself and where my creative ideas start flowing, like blog posts! It’s my personal unicorn space! I invite you to explore what your unicorn space could be.
