“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” – Old Proverb
Today’s entry, arriving after what feels like weeks since the last, reminds me that there are no coincidences. This week in my yoga classes, I’ve been reflecting on the astrology of the month—Pluto moving into Aquarius—which, among other things, invites us to act from a place of love. Choosing to act from a place of love, can bring up both fear and faith, which also inspired a recent blog post that included the Bob Proctor quote: “Faith and fear both demand we believe in things we cannot see—you choose.”
I’ve been encouraging my students to remember that in each moment, whether on or off the mat, we have complete control over how we respond to life’s situations. Do we choose fear, or do we choose faith? Yoga is a space where this duality often comes alive. In class this week, we explored the practice of staying in postures. I like to call this “marinating,” a nod to my love of cooking. Just as marinating tenderizes meat, holding poses—with all the physical and mental challenges that arise—has the potential to tenderize us from the inside out. Staying in discomfort, sitting with our "stuff," and holding space for the sensations and emotions that emerge are transformative acts. When we practice staying present, even when it’s hard, we grow. We soften.
Yoga also has a way of shining a light on our habits and this week I’ve been encouraging students to notice those habits—the very ones that Gates talks about in his writing. It’s fascinating how yoga mirrors life, right? Gates points out how yoga often reveals the times when we feel the need to push ourselves to the limit. Sometimes we go "balls to the wall," driven by ego or ingrained beliefs that tell us we must force our way forward. This can lead to injury, frustration, or blame—blame for the teacher making the class too hard, or for ourselves for not being "good enough."
But when we pause to examine why we feel compelled to push, we free ourselves from the blame cycle. We start to ride the natural ups and downs of practice, whether we’re pushing or resting. Yoga is designed to reveal our patterns—not to punish us, but to guide us toward awareness. And yet, awareness can be uncomfortable. It’s tempting to label yoga as "too hard" and walk away, making excuses or blaming others. But when we truly understand that we’re in control of our reactions—whether we push or pull back—we see that the challenge lies within us.
Over time, students begin to relax in the pose. Active rest, whether in a challenging posture or a restorative one, becomes the key to sustaining a long-term practice. It’s not about giving up but about knowing when to let go. When we decide yoga is too hard and throw the baby out with the bathwater, we miss the deeper opportunities for transformation. Choosing faith over fear—openness over resistance—lets us unravel ourselves in ways we can’t always predict.
In my classes this week, I shared a cue born of my own tendencies. At the end of class, when instructors offer a final opportunity to take any pose before savasana, I notice how often I feel the urge to keep doing. Whether it’s squeezing in one last stretch or tackling an extra pose, I realize this mirrors my habit of overloading my to-do list in life—throwing in "just one more thing." On the mat, most of the work has already been done. Off the mat, the extra task can wait. The email can wait. Choosing to stop doing and simply be—whether in savasana or in stillness—can feel challenging, but it’s often exactly what’s needed to align ourselves with a deeper sense of peace.
When we become aware of our patterns—the tendency to push too hard or do too much—we unlock the power to make different choices. The choice to rest, to soften, to let go might feel counterintuitive, but it’s what creates space for true growth. Yoga teaches us that the decision to push ahead or pull back is always ours to make. The key is to stay present, recognize the choices as they arise, and align with what truly serves our highest selves—and by extension, the lives of those around us.
Namaste, and thank you for reading!
Lauri
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