Hold the pose just a little longer

I'm all about that yoga life, but I call it my yoga "practice" instead of just doing it. When I walk into that room, it's not just about poses and flows – it's about practicing being in the moment, having patience, showing myself some love, and being grateful. But you know what really gets me going? Holding those tough poses a bit longer, embracing the discomfort, staying where it's not all rainbows and unicorns. Because that's where the real growth happens, you feel me?

Life's a whole lot more fun when you treat it like a practice session. Work is a lot more fun when you embrace the uncomfortable, that’s how you level up and isn’t that a wonderful feeling, when you can look back and see your growth at something you worked hard at?

I've consistently been the kind of person who surrounds herself with individuals who excel beyond my abilities. I understand that this approach diminishes my learning curve and provides ample time for practice. The more one practices, the more one experiences growth.

As I compose this letter, I find myself in Charleston, SC, graciously gifted a pass to an exceptional studio by my staff for Christmas. The atmosphere here is vibrant, filled daily with 50-60 energetic individuals in their twenties from the College of Charleston. These classes have proven to be among the most challenging I've ever undertaken. During my initial session, I struggled to maintain poses as effortlessly as the younger ladies in the room, prompting my ego to attribute it to age. However, I quickly realized that wasn't the case. Instead of opting for a class more aligned with my skill level, I chose to immerse myself in a challenging environment. By persistently extending my holds and pushing through discomfort, I can now, almost three weeks later, match their rhythm nearly 80% of the time. Staying in the room where I'm pushed to grow by those ahead of me has been a transformative journey.

Where in your life are you avoiding the challenging poses?

Are you opting for the easier classes?

Are you going through work without a mentor who pushes you?

Are your friendships not pushing you to grow?

Are you stuck doing the same old routine at work, never venturing out to learn something new?

Consider where in your life you're avoiding holding, is it work, health, financially? If growth is a priority for you, I urge you to give it a try—choose the toughest, most uncomfortable challenges, the things that don't come easily, the tasks you consistently avoid. Those are precisely the areas you should be committing to and holding onto. Hold on, even if it's just 1% longer each day. Over time, you'll reflect and realize how much richness life holds when you push through the discomfort just a bit longer.

With Love

Susana