Simple Moves

As I entered the room to teach my first yoga class my teacher whispered to me, the reminder, “Simple moves.” I wasn’t advanced enough to stick to that instruction. Something inside me just couldn’t humble myself enough to stick to the basics — where there’s plenty of magic, and the most access to magic for most of us.

I’ve learned that in real life, not just yoga, it’s the basics, the simple moves, that have the highest return on investment. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, rest, sleep, healthy body, mind, social, spiritual, service stuff, repeat. Keeping consistent with these simple elements, without getting rigid about it, is the golden ticket for me.

When I’m in a centered, buoyant space all that comes pretty naturally, without effort. Then the add-ons, the special stuff, the extras have room to come in and bring joy. When I’m over/under on the basics, or re-calibrating the dosage of the basics, then the special stuff, the fancy moves, the things that are supposed to be a treat don’t feel like a treat. They feel like a burden, a depletion, a should.

As my own teacher and guide, I now know that I feel better when I focus on the simple moves, the basics. Then opportunities for more pizzaz come in without any effort on my part, and I can choose whether or not more or different would actually be an upgrade for me as I am in that moment. It’s humbling to realize that what I thought I needed and what I actually need are not the same.

When I go for the pizazz first, rather than the simple first, it doesn’t turn out as joyfully as I hope or think it will. (Understatement.) When I go for the basics first, I’m awed by how grateful I am for my life as it is. I’m gonna keep going.