The accidental yogi

As I sit here typing, I should be in yoga class. I know I should be in yoga class, I WANT to be in yoga class, but I can’t go to yoga class, because I’ve got to write this blog about, well, yoga class!

And as I type, I can hear Sebastien’s voice in my head. “Excuses.”

But I DO have to write my blog and I DO want to be in class but I CAN’T do them both at the same time! You see my problem?

And before the blog deadline, there was my cat. She was at the vet. I couldn’t leave her alone at home as she was woozy from some anaesthesia. Then there was the interview that I couldn’t reschedule as it was the only time my client could meet me. And there was a doctor’s appointment. And the day I had to pick my friend up from the airport. The time I ‘accidentally’ had a glass of cava with lunch and didn’t think I should practice afterward. The days my yoga gear was in the wash. And that day I worked for 12 hours straight.

Cue Sebastien. “Excuses. They’re all just excuses.”

It’s not always in my control, I swear. There was the day I had a photoshoot on the beach and I was just so physically exhausted from carrying big bags of clothes and bags up and down the dry sand all day. That time I had a headache from too much stress. Oh, and the time I was so weak from doing a juice detox I didn’t think it was safe for me to practice. The time I lost my car keys in my messy house. I had a terrible nights sleep and needed an extra hour in bed. And of course, every girl’s fallback excuse, there are those days when I have excruciating period pain.

“Just come to class. Yoga will make it all better.” Yes, thank you Sebastien.

The thing is, I know he’s right. Because on the days when I do make it to class, everything else just slips away. The headaches dissipate, the stress is forgotten about, the aches and pains are actually eased and I feel totally re-energised. If I do a night class, I sleep like a baby. If I do a morning class, I feel ready to tackle the world, no matter what it throws at me, in the hours ahead.

But no matter how hard I try right now, I just can’t seem to get myself to class more than twice a week. I don’t see a huge difference in my body since I started practice – sure, I see a little, and I obviously feel much better for practicing, but when will I get my muscly little yogi arms? Why don’t I have a flat taut stomach from working my core? Why don’t I have the strength to change the water cooler bottle in the office by myself? Where’s my zen at?