“Inhale…”
“Just this…”
“Exhale…”
“Is Enough…”
The words from the Yoga instructor were comforting, the exercise kind and slow. Positioned between two friends, I lay on my back with my eyes closed, repeating the words in my head as I inhaled and exhaled deeply. She continued,
“Give yourself permission to let go of the push…the control…at this very moment…it is enough.”
I felt my whole body relax.
It was my first time to experience a Yoga Wall class. When Mary, my friend of 35 years challenged me to take a risk and join her, I accepted her invitation. I thought surely I could stretch and bend with the best of them. As we drove to the studio, she began to prepare me for what was coming…
In a nutshell, I learned that a Yoga wall has straps on it that hold your body weight while you lean and stretch into the positions several feet off the floor.
Gulp.
Silently I sat in the front seat of the car, her words penetrating my peace. My mind began taking me down a path of straps, positions and embarrassing mishaps that verged on the assurance of impending exposure and certain death. The small twinge of anxiety began to somersault and snowball itself right into the center of my chest, my heart picking up the pace of my racing thoughts.
Swallow. Always swallow the anxiety. Because it is a sign of weakness. Better to hide it than to disappoint. Wouldn’t want to cause a problem.
We arrived at the Yoga studio and Mary supplied me with a mat, a block and a belt. I took one look at the Yoga wall and the ‘what if’s’ began…the silent war inside my head.
“What if the straps break?”
“What if I fall?”
Or worse…
“What if I fall and cause someone else to fall?”
“What if I can’t do it?”
The perfectionist inside me was pushing me to ‘trooper up’ and get through it.
I hesitated and thought about taking a seat on a bench at the back of the room where I knew I would be safe, calm and quiet. Ambivalence tugged at my heart…I wanted to try but was afraid to risk. Not far behind the push was the guilt reminding me that my friend had gone to the effort and cost of the class, how could I let her down?!
I took a few minutes to go to the ladies room, to breathe, to give myself wiggle room to make a decision.
Really, my challenge wasn’t really about Yoga. It wasn’t about the straps. It was about my fear of the unknown and uncertain.
It was about trust, vulnerability and choices.
Could I trust the instructor?
Could I trust myself to ask for help if I needed it?
Could I be kind to myself and stop the process without labelling myself a failure?
Could I exercise the freedom to be all of me with all my fear and trembling?
And most importantly, if I wanted to stop, could I risk being a disappointment?
Would I be enough? Would I be too much?
“All this over a Yoga Wall class?”
Yes. All this.
Courage to be me and all of what I bring requires kindness and tenderness for the recovery of my heart. The truth is that I struggle with anxiety. But rather than label it and me as ‘too much’, I have learned to embrace it as a gift and a reminder that my heart is unsettled and needs care and attention. Instead of ignoring what is really going on for me so others can be satisfied, I am paying attention to my body and my need for kindness.
I no longer need to hide. I am needy but I will add that I have discovered,
“Weak is the new strong.”
-Author unknown
Friends are those who can accept me in all my flaws and all my beauty.
It is in that space of my need for acceptance where Jesus comes for my heart and reminds me of the sweet and tender young girl I was whose courageous cries for help in the midst of danger and death were met with silence and harm. He gently reminds me that no matter what choice I make, no matter what anyone else thinks and no matter what happens He loves me, it is Him I live for and I am safe in His arms.
I took my place at the wall.
For the next hour and with a lot of help from my instructor, I laughed, I wrestled as I tried to slip my legs through straps nearly impossible to reach– twisting, turning and stretching into positions I thought only belonged to pretzels.
There I was hanging upside down while my friend Mary snapped a few “prove it” pictures…
The class came to an end. Laying on my back, listening to the voice of the instructor, her words gently urged my heart to rest…
“You can slowly open your eyes, come back to being fully awake and remember….
“Just this…
Is
ENOUGH”
Simple. Restful. Peaceful. No push. No plan. No Expectation.
Ellen Oelsen lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband of 24 years. She is a mother of 4 children and loves their 2 dogs and 1 cat. Her hobbies include cooking, nature, reading, plays, and two stepping. She delights in offering hospitality of the heart and creating spaces of care, rest, play and reflection to inspire hope. She is beginning to expose the writer within her.
&nb
sp
Beautifully written, Ellen! I love the quote, “weak is the new strong.” I’ve never done wall yoga but now I’m curious and I’d love to give it a try.
Thanks Anna…It was a great experience. Hope you get to try it soon.
I love how you are embracing anxiety as a gift that leads you to sell care and acceptance!
Love it too Jeanette – and thank you for your words. Hope you are enjoying care and acceptance too.
Thanks for sharing how you are coping/overcoming your anxieties. Trying new things is courageous; I hope you are basking in your courage.
Your welcome, Madeline and thank you for your kind words.
“Courage to be me and all of what I bring requires kindness and tenderness for the recovery of my heart”…. Beautiful, Ellen, and certainly resonates with me. For me, it was paddle boarding for the first time this summer. I love how Jesus comes in the most unexpected ways and places to bring deeper healing. Thank you for your story.
I have not yet attempted paddle boarding, Susan – but i look forward to trying it soon. Just saw one on the river yesterday and had an inkling:) Glad you were courageous and yes, I agree, it is fun to meet Jesus in unexpected ways and even in the messes.
Thank you for your story, Ellen. What a beautiful example of listening to, stopping for and caring for your precious heart. I am so excited for the risk you took, but even more importantly, I loved that you knew that “no matter what choice I make, no matter what anyone else thinks and no matter what happens He loves me, it is Him I live for and I am safe in His arms.” That sounds like such freedom to me 🙂 Thanks again. Much love and many blessings to you.
Love and blessings to you, Christine. Yes to freedom!!! 🙂
this is so good. i needed this reminder today. thanks for being brave!
I appreciate your kind words, Heatherenna. Grateful.
I love the care and the kindness you are giving to your anxious self. It causes me to pause and reflect on the anxiety I carry in my heart and my body. I’m also giggling over the images of you wrestling in those straps. I love you, my friend.
Yes Mary Jane – I am certain you would have laughed along with me in my anxious wrestling! It was an experience for sure. Love you too.
This was so good! I love all of your pics but I really enjoyed you sharing what all was stirring. Thank you!
Thanks B for your encouragement.and your heart.
You are a brave one Ellen! This paragraph haunts me: “It is in that space of my need for acceptance where Jesus comes for my heart and reminds me of the sweet and tender young girl I was whose courageous cries for help in the midst of danger and death were met with silence and harm. He gently reminds me that no matter what choice I make, no matter what anyone else thinks and no matter what happens He loves me, it is Him I live for and I am safe in His arms.” I would love to know more of your story but only when you choose to write. It sounds like you have a lot you have learned and a lot to say. Thank you for this beautiful entry.
Thank you Becky! Yes – I have learned much and am continuing to learn more – God has been incredibly faithful to his promise to give wisdom. I do have much to say and am finding my words. Thank you for your encouragement and your heart.
Dear Ellen, “The truth is that I struggle with anxiety. But rather than label it and me as ‘too much’, I have learned to embrace it as a gift and a reminder that my heart is unsettled and needs care and attention. Instead of ignoring what is really going on for me so others can be satisfied, I am paying attention to my body and my need for kindness. I am so moved by your invitation to yourself to acknowledge your anxiety with care and kindness. I know you as a woman who battles well for kindness for yourself. It’s lovely and invites me to offer myself the same. Thank you for your story. blessings, Valerie
Thank you Valerie…you too have been a witness of the kindness of God for your heart and the hearts of others. Grateful for your words and Yes to kindness!
I could feel my own anxiety mounting as you told the story and the set-up! I too, struggle with anxiety, and love the kindness of your words of blessing, of the reminder that your heart is unsettled and in need of care. So your description of how you did just that by taking the time and space and options before risking the wall was perfect. So glad you got to experience the freedom of actually “doing it”, without forcing your heart and body in a way that would bring success at great cost. Thank you for sharing!