Creating Sacred Space

Have I mentioned before how difficult it is to find time for asana practice? And when you do have the rare half hour to yourself, you either fall asleep before you even get the mat rolled out or opt instead for the decadent combo pleasure of ice cream enticing you from the kitchen and RuPaul's Drag Race.  Or maybe that's just me.

More than time, I've found that finding space is of equal issue.  With a tiny cottage of a house, what was once my yoga space/living room/piano room is now all of that with a pack n play, high chair, swing and assorted other baby gear.  And a baby of course.   The most beautiful, perfect Buddha baby that I still am in complete awe of every moment.   A baby that is laughing, clapping, standing, dancing, teething and doing all those first little unique baby things that fill me with a pure joy that makes me believe in the Divine with a fierceness I never would have imagined.

And though it goes without saying that I wouldn't trade all this for the world, sometimes I miss having a space for yoga, that special mojo vibe area for my practice.

Tonight, I knew I needed to find some way to get my mat out. While Daddy watched her and got her ready for bed, I cleared all the patio furniture from our deck, lit some candles and incense and popped in Yoga Shanti with Laurel on the CD player.   Within about 30 seconds, I felt the shift.  You know the one - the one you get when you start really breathing for the first time all day.  The one when you elongate along your mat and sigh, "Hello beautiful body, I forgot all about you today."  This one was special though because within these 30 seconds, I realized I had recreated my sacred space without even intending to.  I hadn't even considered that I could have it anywhere else, but here I had just created an environment conducive to such peace.  The smell of the incense, the sound of the birds and wind through the trees and Laurel's soothing voice and chimes all carried me into my sadhana space.

After my savasana, I rolled the mat back up and put the patio furniture back in its place. It's not permanent (which is perfectly Buddhist, right?) but it is perfect for a Yoga Mama with an 11 month old who more often than not only has a few minutes anyway.    If you're reading this, I encourage you to reflect on ways you can create a little spiritual space for yourself in ways (or spaces) you hadn't considered.   Sometimes just a candle, a fabric, a certain CD or meaningful icon can transform mundane space into something special instantly.   Create your own sacred space however you can!  Om Shanti.