Stretch yourself with yoga

While lockdown endures I find my self-resolve and drive is going in the opposite direction. Because of the lack of social contact (except for my dog and cat who can be better company than most) and the lack of cultural events and stimulus I’m finding my daily routines becoming more of a drudge than ever.

I came to self discipline quite late in life, not until my thirties. A friend suggested I help her with her overflowing yoga classes. Suddenly, I found myself in a school hall on a yoga mat at 6.30am six days a week for months. That discipline has stayed with me. Not every morning is started with yoga, it’s walking the dog now or trying to learn to read music, but I have it in my DNA now to have a practice or a discipline to start the day. Now before you say, what a smug little know-it-all this one is, stop right there! I have been known to read trashy novels for hours on end, go back to bed during the day and eat whole boxes of Maltesers in one go. After all one must have balance! Borrowbox has a very good selection of yoga books, either in audio format with guided meditations or eBooks with detailed images. 

But my yoga practice has saved me this year. I don’t feel like doing it and I don’t feel like it’s doing any good but I know I will feel better about myself if I drag myself through it just for twenty minutes.

Another way I have stretched myself this year was to do a course in something I knew nothing about. If you have a library card, you can access Universal Classes. They have a wide range of courses from science and maths to art and business studies. I did Electronics and was horrified when I realised it was a lot of algebra. I didn’t even pass maths in the leaving cert!! But after a long time and phoning a friend I got a cert and passed with 80%, if I can do it god knows anyone can. 

If you’ve lost a loved one or gone through a hard time, it can really throw you and undermine your self-confidence. Small steps to achieving small goals can be a way to regain your confidence.

This online event hosted by Ringsend Library looks like a great way to start. As a yoga teacher said to me once, “you only regret the practices you don’t do”. 

Submitted by Eileen in Dolphin's Barn library with a yoga pose by her clever dog.