Why is it that after an illness or injury, it’s often difficult to get back to our practice, though this is when yoga would likely benefit us the most.

I asked myself this question recently after undergoing surgery for torn meniscus on both my knees. Part of me looked forward to getting back to practicing and teaching yoga, though secretly, part of me felt less than enthusiastic.

I realized that I was feeling a little despondent over how well I could teach, since I still don’t have full flexion of my knees. Some poses are difficult right now, or even impossible. So I began by teaching Gentle & Restorative yoga, and that’s when I discovered that having this physical limitation placed on me actually improved my teaching skills. I can better understand the physical limitations of others, and help them modify or work toward opening to more flexibility.

Yoga asks us to work with what we have available to us now, listen to our bodies, and let go of our egos. I admit, my ego was definitely involved.

If you stopped your yoga practice, or any meaningful practice in your life, due to health issues or some other distraction, and you keep telling yourself you’ll get back to it soon, ask yourself what’s holding you back from returning now.

The first line of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is Atha yoga anusasanam. Translated, it means simply, Yoga here and now.

If not now, when?

Namaste.