Uses of Yoga Attire

"Uses of Yoga Attire: Panglaba ( Laundry), Pang-ilis ug Ponda (Replacing Sofa Covers) ug Uban Pa (Many More)..."

     I jokingly post in my social media stories how I do house chores in a Yoga tank and pants. Some viewers get a kick out of it with the "haha" sign. Some press that thumbs up sign. Some don't care. All is good. Everybody moves on to the next person's story.  Joking aside, for these past few weeks my practice in Yoga and Meditation has been here, there and everywhere. Unfortunately, most of the times it is a combination of all three.  The hours are occupied with home chores-- laundry, dishes, changing sheets, changing curtains making the bed, sweeping floors, wiping windows, more chores and attending to my boys. Transitioning into this kind of normal since the home quarantine started has been a slow process in that I am still trying to find balance in establishing a personal time and housekeeping. Some days, I am able to follow a consistent timeline. Other times, I have the attention span of a 3-year old,  failing to stick to my self-imposed schedule. In this slow process, however, bursts of insight appear reminding and compelling me to go back to my saving grace. My fingers then deftly open my laptop and the writing begins. 

       I realize that though I haven't stepped on my mat for quite some time now, every chore being done has grounded me, dissipating the various fears and anxieties about my family, about the world, about the future. Every detail such as soaping and scrubbing the tiniest nook and cranny of the dish dispenser is a bringing of mindful attention in itself. With every pillow cover, bed sheet and curtain replaced, I find a silencing of my mind even for just a brief moment. With every shirt wrung and hung on the clothesline under the summer sun, I breathe a little more slowly and deeply. With every step I take as I accompany my boys in their daily afternoon walk around the garden, or as I teach them the motions of fixing the bed, making deliberate movements so it will be simple and clear enough for them to learn is an intention created, attention given. With every frustration and feeling of utter helplessness at the current situation of the world that recurs every now and then in between and sometimes even during tasks, I arrive at an opportunity to bring kindness and compassion to my  heart. 

      I recall a song by Trevor Hall called, "Wish Man". How he wrote the song was through a homeless man who told him, "Everybody's talking about trying to save the world. But all we really ever have is this moment, right now. This moment. I don't know whether I'm going to go fifteen steps this way or whether you're going to go fifteen steps that way. All we ever got is this moment. This moment. Close your eyes and that's it.

       The real practice of Yoga and Meditation is off the mat, many teachers have reiterated. Real life. So how to do real life? The homeless man's words have never been truer-- "Everybody's trying to save the world. But all we have is this moment. Right now." This intention to be present in whatever chore I am doing. Breathing more slowly, more deeply with every shirt wrung and hung in the summer sun. This silencing of the mind or befriending the noise in my head, showing compassion to myself with every stride I take walking with my boys or teaching them simple tasks. Opening my heart with self-compassion especially in recurring moments of fear and anxiety. This is the true practice of Yoga and Meditation at least in my own life. 

       When I really think about it, when I am able to do real life, I am saving the world. And of course in a Yoga tank and pants. Some people will get a kick out of it, some will give me a thumbs up sign. Some still won't care. All's good. On to the next story. 

     "Addendum to Uses of Yoga Attire: Living Real Life. In the moment. Which is all we ever have."