One of the things I love most about travelling is being in a completely different environment without all the things you surround yourself with in your daily life - immersing yourself in a different culture and a different way of just about everything you think you know, and most certainly tend to take for granted. It really is such a privilege not only to be able to travel freely, but also to learn things - big and small about yourself and what actually matters to you. Please don't get me wrong, you can have these eye-opening, maybe even defining moments and also still love your creature comforts and your 'stuff'.
When I travel, I never bring anything with me except possibly a resistance band, but I never bring my own mat. I always make do with what is available to practice my wellness routine and I'm SO grateful for it - be it a towel, nothing at all but Mother Earth under my feet (arguably the best way to practice and connect), or a brief encounter with another mat - and I have, I am ashamed to say, had many of those... It's functional and even sometimes quite delightful but it's never quite the same as a practice with MY mat, something I was reminded of during our holiday.
A mat that you practice with regularly can become a trusted ally and friend, not just because it's always there, but also because of the journey you go on. Whether it be a journey of transformation, healing, recovery or relaxation, the mat is there to cushion, support, hold and steady you - no wonder we can form a strong bond with it?!
MY mat was given to me during lockdown, I had had a very difficult time, like so many others and was in a deep state of grief after much loss and sadness, trying to acclimatise to a new way of living and being, and it became my very trusted companion as I was finding my way through it all.
So to express my gratitude to a now very worn companion who's been there through thick and thin - here's an Ode to My Yoga Mat:
Oh, dear yoga mat, you faithful friend,
Upon your surface, my journey bends.
From downward dog to warrior stance,
You've seen it all, you've given my efforts a chance.
With every pose, I hear you creak,
A symphony of stretch, not sleek.
Your rubbery embrace, a comfort true,
Even when I stumble, you remain in view.
In moments of zen, you ground my soul,
Beneath my feet, you play a massive role.
But let's not forget those awkward falls,
Where my balance falters, and dignity stalls.
From my studio floor to the great outdoors,
you've seen I stand like a tree or Cat on all fours.
Through sweat and tears, you stand the test,
A sturdy companion, my yoga nest.
Oh, how we've laughed, oh, how we've cried,
On this journey of self, side by side.
So here's to you, my trusty mat,
For keeping me grounded, through all of that.
As I roll you up at the end of the day,
I'm filled with gratitude, what else can I say?
You're not just a mat, you're a cherished friend,
On this journey of wellness, from start to end.
Pilates or Yoga? you're an indispensable part,
My non-slip friend, forever in my heart.
Thank you, my dear mat divine,
Together, we'll flow, we'll stretch, and we'll shine.
AND as you can see I'm clearly not the only one attached to my mat!
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