Amid the holiday insanity that was my life last week, I was able to attend two yoga classes. Three full hours of no one to do for but myself. It was glorious.

After our practice, my teacher, Vicki (she is so wonderful) leads the class in relaxation. This is always the most difficult part of the class for me. In an attempt to force myself into bliss, I struggle to release all tension for every muscle in my body, to just 'be' in the moment, to calm the whirrings of my mind. I have yet to achieve bliss! Oh, I've made some progress since I began my classes, but this is particular challenge for me. While my classmates are peacefully floating in their inner worlds, I'm planning the next day's schooling, the next editorial, scheduling laundry....anything but relaxing.

This week, Vicki began our relaxation by simply saying 'let your body relax'. The key here is her use of the word 'let'. I have been forcing, cajoling, bargaining, struggling, making....everything but just letting relaxation happen.

By turning the concept on its head, it seems that relaxation, is our bodies natural state of being. Stress is self-inflicted. To-Do Lists are self-inflicted. Relaxation, calm, and balance are the starting points of our being.

All we have to do is let it be.

all the best,

Catie