I’ve been practising yoga for the past 20 years. I try to practice most days. In ashtanga, we use the woven mat on top of the regular, sticky mat. It helps with jump throughs and absorbs the sweat.
The other day when I looked at my mat, I saw the unravelling from the years of use, and the knots I carefully retied, one by one to stop it.
This unravelling of my mat is like life, it happens quite naturally and every time I show up on the mat is like tying another knot to stop it.
Every time I choose to pause and reset, every time I choose to reflect and respond more consciously; every time I pause and breathe, or choose to pay attention or put effort into something that will help me grow and accomplish things, every time I pause intentionally and become aware of what is at hand is like tying a knot in the fabric of life.
This is how the habits that hold the cloth of our life together are formed, one knot at a time. Without care, things deteriorate and fall apart. With care and attention, we can mend them and keep them whole.