It’s that time of year where people are making all sorts of goals; specifically, it seems, health and wellness goals. I miss teaching yoga, a little, at this time of year because my classes always had some enthusiastic and curious new students. I really loved it, introducing people to yoga and specifically introducing them to my view of the practice.
Recently Stephany (HI STEPHANY) asked do you plan to teach yoga again and I don’t really, not right now. The thought of building up a clientele from scratch, looking for a class to teach, and finding substitutes for the classes that I will inevitably need when we travel just seems too overwhelming.
But I miss encouraging my beloved students on their yoga journeys. Many years ago – I think it was 2008 – a teacher said to me that there is a difference between going to yoga classes and having a yoga practice, and it is this latter that I wish I could impart on everyone.
I taught many different people with many different body types and abilities, and I feel like every one of them benefited from a practice. I taught seniors and I taught young people, I taught people who were able-bodied and people who were injured and people with chronic pain, I taught people who had suffered strokes and people who couldn’t get down to sit on a yoga mat and people in scooters. Over the years I taught hundreds of classes and I learned a lot about people and their bodies.
I remember one day looking around at my Yoga for Stroke Survivors class; there were probably fifteen people there, and everyone had wildly different physical abilities. I remember thinking how will I teach this? and then a lightbulb went off. I realized that there were so many different ways that a single asana could be experienced. Cat-cow, for example, is typically experienced on hands and knees, but the same spinal flexion and extension could happen if a person was seated on a chair, or standing with hands on a wall or another support.
Sometimes friends will tell me I wish I could do yoga, but I don’t have time. Or, I can’t do downward dog, I can’t touch my toes, I’m BAD AT YOGA. Friends, I am here to say that no one is bad at yoga. And you can have a yoga practice, if you want to, even if you feel you don’t have time.
Listen. I’m not your mom, unless one of my kids is reading this, in which extremely unlikely case I say hi lovies, I love you! I’m not here to be the boss of you or tell you what to do, but I do wish that I could spread the word that a yoga practice can be whatever you want it to be. Yoga videos and those thirty-day challenges are all great, if that’s your thing. I would never say a word against them.
But here’s the thing: for every person who benefits greatly from a yoga challenge and for whom that is the beginning of a lifelong practice, there are many others who find them discouraging or injury-inducing or otherwise detrimental. It doesn’t have to be that way, it really doesn’t. There are no yoga police. No one is going to kick you out of the Yoga Club if you aren’t able to hold a plank or if you can’t go into child’s pose without discomfort.
One doesn’t need lululemon pants or a video or even a yoga mat to have a daily yoga practice. I had a lovely older lady who came to my class once a week, and the rest of the week incorporated a small daily practice into her life. She would do a tree pose while she brushed her teeth, using her bathroom counter for support. She would do a standing cat-cow while she waited for her coffee to brew. A few times a week she would roll out her mat and do a few sun salutations, or she’d lie in savasana. I found her inspirational.
Here’s my challenge, should you choose to accept it. Pick five favourite postures, and then every day do ONE of them. If time allows, do two or more. There’s no need to do them together or at any particular time during the day, just whenever you find yourself with an extra minute. Maybe twist on the chair that currently houses your body, maybe stand up and reach your hands toward the ceiling. Take a forward fold when the shower is heating up. When stopped at a red light, turn off the radio and listen to the sound of your breathing. Bam! Meditation. Hell, if you have time, roll out a mat and do all five postures, maybe more, maybe do a whole practice or a video or go to a class, but just know that even one minute a day adds up over time.
One of the key tenets of a yoga practice is the concept of maitri, or loving-kindness, and this is not limited to how a person interacts with other people. The first person one should extend loving-kindness to is oneself. Giving yourself a little stretch during the day, permitting yourself to sit in quiet meditation for one minute, allowing yourself some grace to come as you are when life is chaotic and the pressure is on to set goals, goals, goals, these are gifts we can bestow on ourselves every single day.
Weekly Reading
Speaking of gifts, what could be better than a few good books?
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. I have started my revising and editing course this week, and I have found this book on beats and scenes so helpful in terms of organizing my manuscript. I have work to do in the editing process but it all feels manageable, and I’m happy with my progress so far.
Worry. This was a wild, darkly funny satire about two sisters who end up living together in New York city. The older sister suffers from anxiety, hypochondria, and massive phone and Instagram addiction; the younger sister, who suffers depression and debilitating hives, moved in with her sister after a suicide attempt. Meanwhile, their mother, down in Florida, has become a Messianic Jew, doomsday prepper, and pyramid-seller of essential oils. There is almost no plot, but instead a statement about life in 2019, about codependency and sisterhood, about the numbness of internet connections. I loved it but it is satire; it’s like David Sedaris meets Hello Beautiful meets Prozac Nation meets Momfluenced in the weirdest way possible. It’s bonkers and I loved it.
Alphabetical Diaries. This is such a wild idea: the author took a decade’s worth of journals, put each line in a spreadsheet, and then sorted alphabetically. Each line. From every journal entry for a decade. The result was half a million words, which she edited down to a much more readable 60000. The result reads like a really long free-form prose poem. I couldn’t help but wonder if the amount of work that went into this project paid off, monetarily, but I guess one doesn’t go into writing for the money. Thanks to my friend Engie (HI ENGIE) for bringing this one to my attention!
I started writing this post just wanting to talk about my views about yoga, and now I’m thinking – let’s make it a real challenge! Who wants in to my Yoga Club? To join, you have to a) commit to at least sixty seconds of a stretch or sitting in silent meditation once a day, and b) practice loving-kindness towards yourself if you miss a day. It’s a practice, not perfection! And since I do miss that aspect of teaching, if anyone ever has questions about postures and their variations, please send me a message. I’d be more than happy to share what I’ve learned through the years. xo
I love this approach to yoga, especially the emphasis on loving kindness. That is something we all need more of. I haven’t done yoga in quite awhile but would like to re-establish a practice this year, especially when I am traveling. I feel like it would be grounding to end my day with some gentle yoga.
Oh yes, Lisa, I think that sounds perfect for you. Some nice gentle restorative practices. You’ve had such a rough year and it sounds like you’re going to have six weeks of limitations, so maybe a gentle chair/ breathing practice might be just the ticket for you right now?
Thanks Nicole- I love this! A few weeks ago when I was complaining about my back, Engie suggested doing a few yoga poses every day. Have I taken er advice? Er… no. But I’ve been thinking about it! I’m going to join your challenge.
Yay, Jenny’s in! Now Jenny, I will give you an added incentive – yoga has been shown to decrease injuries as we get older, and also improve mobility. Maybe a little yoga after your runs?
I got to the loving-kindness part and was asking myself, “is Nicole talking to me?” I’m going to add a reminder to my reminders to do a pose for a minute a day. With my ankle drama and now having an oof fall, I always think yoga is beyond me for this moment, but you helped me remember chair yoga and seated postures and all of those things that meet folks where they are at. Thanks – this challenge is so very appreciated!
Hahaha YES LINDSAY I’M TALKING TO YOU! Loving kindness to yourself is a gift. Chair yoga is also a gift! It’s so great. There is so much you can do on a chair to improve mobility and flexibility, and just mindfulness! xo
I’ve never done yoga, but I think about it sometimes. Maybe someday.
My daily practice is walking. I do have some arm and leg stretches and some stepping exercises that are supposed to help with balance I do several times a week, too.
Sounds like yoga to me – a moving meditation with arm and leg stretches, work on balance? Very yogic!
Nicole, I’ve always wished I could take a yoga class with you, so please sign me up for your yoga club. Especially if it comes with helpful pictures of you demonstrating poses. Also, where did I see that video of your old yoga studio–that was some rockstar energy!
A l o n g time ago, when the kids were little, our whole family would do five minutes of yoga together before getting ready for school. I so loved that practice.
Maya, I have some (terrible quality) videos on YouTube that I filmed on my iPad at the very beginning of the pandemic, so if you can suffer through the quality they are here: https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCu2-EtPkgtvIMxFwuljzb8g/videos/upload?filter=%5B%5D&sort=%7B%22columnType%22%3A%22date%22%2C%22sortOrder%22%3A%22DESCENDING%22%7D
I wish we could practice together on the regular! The other video you’re referring to is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUMRAgFOa3o
My favourite line about yoga comes from my first yoga teacher, way back in the year 2000! She always said, ‘yoga never leaves you.’ And I love that. I do a class once or twice a week and try to meditate most days, but it’s always guided. So I will join your yoga club, with the intention of some more daily poses and even one minute of daily silent meditation!
Oh Anna that’s so true! It does never leave you. I’m so happy you’re in the club – I know you’ve long had a practice! Yay!
I love your yoga challenge, and I’m in! What a kind-to-myself and gentle way to put a little more mindfulness and care for my physical body into my days.
Hi Eli!!! Welcome to the club! I’m so excited you’re here. Being kind and gentle with ourselves is such a gift and I’m glad you’re giving it to yourself. xoxo
I have managed to work yoga in every day this year– sometimes just a quick child’s pose and pigeon or forward fold and down dog– sometimes a whole flow. It has been lovely. I am all in for the club. Maybe you could perhaps sometime teach a zoom class?
YOU ARE IN THE CLUB!!! Yay!
I hadn’t thought about a zoom class but that’s a good idea! I like the idea of being interactive with students.
I’m in, I always feel better when I incorporate yoga into my life. Recovering from surgery at the moment so focusing on small goals/ wins and this fits the bill!
Oh Leneigh, I hope your recovery is going well. I’m so glad this suits you – and I think you and I are not far apart so if you have any questions or need anything let me know!
This is one of my goals for the year! I am doing at least five yoga poses a day. It does not take that long! I have always hesitated with the whole yoga practice daily thing because some days I honestly do not have time for a 15-30 minute practice, but this is perfect. I can do a cat-cow before I eat my lunch. A flow right before bed. A twist at my desk. It’s perfect.
I don’t think you loved Alphabetical Diaries as much as I did, but I did truly love it.
Yay, I love this Engie, I love this so much!!! It’s just nice to incorporate it into our day to day life!
I didn’t love it but I liked it a lot and found it so interesting how we really got to know, say, “Lemons” or whoever, just through fairly random lines!
I love this post so much! I gave up yoga because I always hurt myself! I was so sad as when I was younger it loved it. I’m going to join your challenge! I hope you will write more about what you think a yoga practice is. Also, I heard the author of the Alphabet Diaries on a podcast. Thx for reminding me about the book. It would be good for me to read as I work on my Meta Journal project for my Substack readers.
Laura, you are not alone! I know many people who have had injuries from yoga! I will definitely write more about it! xoxo
Oh, Nicole, I am here for this! I’m joining your club! I love the part of practicing loving kindness and that there’s no yoga police. You are such a kind, wonderful person, Nicole. I’ll bet your former students miss you so much.
Thank you for doing this!❤️
I don’t know anything about yoga, so I’d love it if you post more poses and thoughts!
Oh Michelle, thank you! I do miss my students a lot. And I will definitely post more about yoga. Now, if you can ignore the absolutely terrible quality, I do have some videos on youtube that show some basic poses. It was in early pandemic days before my students and I learned zoom! I was tiding them over – again, SUPER BAD QUALITY. But maybe you’ll get something out of them? https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCu2-EtPkgtvIMxFwuljzb8g/videos/upload?filter=%5B%5D&sort=%7B%22columnType%22%3A%22date%22%2C%22sortOrder%22%3A%22DESCENDING%22%7D
You had me at Sedaris, so I ordered Worry right away from the library and am headed out right now to pick it up! I’m in the middle of Dear Fang, and it is not as compelling as Rufi Thorpe’s other books, but maybe it gets better?
Bijoux, of the four books I’ve read of Thorpe’s, Dear Fang was the least compelling. The other ones were home runs for me but that one was just pretty good. I hope you like Worry! I like a satirical novel once in a while and that hit just so well.
Yes, I am in! Yoga intimidates me because I am inflexible to the max (hmmm. perhaps there is a life lesson in there…) but I feel like I could commit to doing a pose a day! The loving-kindness will be trickier, but that means it’s also worthwhile. Thanks for this reminder that an all-or-nothing mentality can be limiting.
It really can be limiting! I know for myself that I’ve never signed up for a yoga challenge – and I actually DO practice daily. But I think – what if I can’t practice for some reason? Or get sick? THEN I’LL FAIL. So that’s why I like to keep the definition of practice so broad and gentle. Some days it is going to be a practice that is just sitting and breathing for a few minutes. And why not?
I’ll do a loving kindness meditation with you in mind – hopefully you’ll feel it across the miles!
Have you noticed that a lot of contemporary authors are writing books set in 2017, 2018, or 2019? Is it just me? I suppose you can’t write a book set in 2020 and not mention the pandemic, so this is their way of avoiding it. I wonder how many years we have to be out from it before we can have “normal” times again.
And yes, I will join your yoga challenge!
Sarah, I HAVE noticed that and I don’t love it, to be honest. But I guess with publishing taking years, perhaps those books were written during the pandemic? It’s hard to say. I’m looking forward to the “normal” times for sure.
Yay, Sarah’s in the challenge!
Hi, I’ve never commented before. I was thinking the other day, I wonder if Nicole would do a yoga class via zoom for her blog readers! I’m in for the challenge.
Hi Jen! Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! I do have some bad quality videos on youtube from early pandemic days (seriously, seriously bad quality) but maybe I’ll make another little series of videos of perhaps better quality! Or maybe even a zoom, that is a fun idea! Then it could be interactive. In the meantime, if you have any specific questions I’m here for you – nicoleboyhouse AT gmail DOT com
I’m with JenMac! I would LOVE to access a class taught by you. Even like a 5 minute video of basic moves that even the most inflexible of us could do.
No pressure, though. And today I did 1 minute of child’s pose and 1 minute of cat/cow. Yay. I am HERE FOR THIS CHALLENGE.
Well you are in luck, my friend, because I have some absolutely TERRIBLE quality youtube videos from the early pandemic days, when I needed something to tide my students over. This was before we learned to use zoom. Anyway, here’s me, as filmed on my iPad! https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCu2-EtPkgtvIMxFwuljzb8g/videos/upload?filter=%5B%5D&sort=%7B%22columnType%22%3A%22date%22%2C%22sortOrder%22%3A%22DESCENDING%22%7D
Ahhh…thank you for the idea! I was in a room waiting (for a while, it turned out) for my mammogram to be read and to be taken to another room for another screening — and I remembered your post! So I did a tree…..and then I did a forward fold!
Can’t wait to read your book! That’s so awesome!
Waiting room yoga! This is PERFECTION! What a good way to use that time!
Thanks so much – I have been really enjoying the process of writing fiction!
I’m in! I always do some yoga stretches after my workouts, but I want to add new poses and this gives me the incentive to try out 1 or 2 new ones each day.
Yay Jacquie!!! This is perfect! So glad you’re joining!
You know, I started yoga just for the physical benefits, but it’s given me so much more than that. It feels so good, even though I’m not doing full workouts or anything intense. I’ve gained so much mentally and physically from it.
Honestly, I think yoga is something that calls to you. I never thought I’d be a “yoga person.” But now, every time I’m on the mat, I think of my childhood best friend who passed away from cancer a few years ago. She was a yogi, and I feel her with me when I practice. It’s like we’re doing yoga together. 🩷🌈
Oh I love that so much, Kari! I think of yoga as a moving meditation. It’s such a grounding practice and keeps me focused on breathing and being kind to my body.
I’m in, but thank you for letting me know that I actually do yoga every day then! I never get into bed without a five-minute routine of stretching which includes some yoga poses. Man, I cannot do child’s pose, though – my arms slide and I feel like I’m going to bash my face into the mat. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you about starting yoga sooner – everything in its time, I guess.
That sounds like a yoga practice to me! I usually turn my head to the side for child’s pose or tuck my chin so my forehead rests on the mat. A nice idea is to have a folded towel to rest the forehead/ side of the head on. With your shoulder issues you might consider keeping your arms by your side rather than stretching them in front of you – worth a try anyway.
I want to be in your yoga club! Please?
Laurie, hi! Yes! You’re in! xo
Hi Nicole! Another first time commenter here – I’d love to be part of this challenge. I have not ever taken a class so I will google a couple of beginning poses that look easy to start with. Thank you!
Hi Dulcie! I’m so happy to have you here! Great idea to google some poses – also the photos of me are just simple stretches you can do at the desk (twist, shoulder stretch) plus I’m doing a standing cat/ cow/ hamstring stretch in the kitchen. If I can help in any way send me a message – nicoleboyhouse AT gmail DOT com!
I will endeavor to join the challenge! Will you be showing us how to do the various poses?
I could! I hadn’t thought of that but sure! If there is a specific body part you’d like to stretch just let me know. In early pandemic days I had made a couple of youtube videos that were intended for one of my classes. The quality is absolutely terrible – I was just filming on my iPad but I wanted my students to have something. Here’s the link! https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCu2-EtPkgtvIMxFwuljzb8g/videos/upload?filter=%5B%5D&sort=%7B%22columnType%22%3A%22date%22%2C%22sortOrder%22%3A%22DESCENDING%22%7D
Hi Nicole! I haven’t commented in a while but have been following along. Sorry to be such a lurker.
I just wanted to say that I love this approach to yoga. I have been making an effort to do just a little bit of yoga everyday, usually somewhere around 10 minutes. It’s been a wonderful little challenge. And I think my next challenge will simply be referring to myself as someone who “has a yoga practice” instead of someone who “does yoga,” thanks to the reframe you’ve posed in this post. And I want a big part of my yoga practice to include loving kindness meditation. So thank you for getting my brain going on this topic — it is fascinating and inspiring!
Hi Katie! Great to see you here! Hope you have been well. I’m so happy to hear about your yoga practice – because that is a yoga practice for sure. If you would like the traditional loving kindness meditation, it is this: may I be safe, may I be healthy, may I be happy, may I live with ease – and that can be repeated in your mind as you breathe. Thanks for dropping by! xo
Sign me up, I’m in! Of course I already have a daily yoga practice (since Jan 2 2024) and it has made a world of difference to my back and my neck. My step-mom is retired from a very successful yoga studio that she grew from the ground up, and her advice is the same as yours. You don’t have to do a lot, just a bit every day that you can, will give you benefits. <3
I remembered your step mom was a star in the yoga world! And I also remembered you’ve established a practice, and I am SO happy about it! Yay J!
I am in! This is perfect as I’m in Mexico for the winter. I have a blanket and some bands, run. Walk everywhere (no car) and play a lot of Pickleball. But I need to maintain my strength! I can add this to my pushups & planks. And I’m going to check out your old terrible quality videos. They should go great with our terrible wifi here! Yay!
I really like the idea of loving kindness, we all could benefit more from doing it, practicing it as you’d say.
I like the challenge and it’s doable and good for us to pause and stretch and get in tune with our body and soul. Sign me up!