This weekend in honour of Mother’s Day, I’ve just done a women’s morning of yoga at the Dharma School in Patcham.  We did some standing poses first to get the energy moving, then spent the next couple of hours relaxing in various ways. It was great to see. 

At one point all the women were lying in supported cobbler pose, Supta Baddha Konasana to give it its proper name.  They all had lots of cushions, blocks, blankets etc under their knees, arms, back, head so that they’d feel comfortable.  So comfy that they ended up staying there for a good ten minutes.  As I watched, I felt they looked like queens resting in their splendour, and relaxing their entire bodies. Although I doubt our queen does supported cobbler… but then, who knows? 

Most of the women today said afterwards that they hadn’t realised just how tired they were and I found myself thinking yet again how hard it is for us to stop and rest.  And wondering again what the solution is.  It isn’t easy to take a stand and do less or even nothing when the world around you is busy busy busy, or when so many fantastic opportunities are presented.  Sometimes it feels like you’d have to move to a desert island to get some peace. 

People commented today on the uncomfortable feelings they experienced when they did slow down to do the walking meditation: boredom, anger, sadness, the desperate desire to smoke…. And noticed also how the feeling usually passes or lessens as you continue with the practise.  A woman I once met on a Buddhist retreat that I went to years ago, (who now that I remember happened to be a yoga teacher and who inspired me), said that she used to feel the difference between being on retreat and her normal life was huge.  However, the more she practised her meditation, the smaller the gap became until there was none.  That’s it then isn’t it?  As usual. Keep on keeping on….