Take it to the Mat

I love Facebook.

I have connections all over the world and enjoy some cracking contact and conversations with people, some of whom I haven’t even met.

Today, my friend Robert messaged me to tell me that a friend of his had printed out a poem I had written for him and they had enjoyed reading it over a cup of tea in Bali. How great! We “talked” for a while and we got round to the subject of his yoga practice. He’s a teacher, a student and a very adept practitioner. I complimented him on obvious progress. His photos of him doing yoga in ridiculously exotic locations hadn’t left me envious at all…

“Everybody. Meet Robert.”

[ezcol_1half]

During our conversation, he used a phrase that really resonated with me. He said, “I learn something knew every time I take myself to the mat.” Now Robert has sustained his practice over ten years and has kept this thread continual through much personal upheaval, changing houses, relationships, countries, income levels and pretty much most challenges I could think of.

For all of us, frequency trumps all other variables, the thing we do mindfully and progressively is the thing we get to evolve, to develop. Yet for many, this is elusive, we never really get the deep benefits and insights from endeavours because we just don’t do enough of it.

[/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]

“Robert’s personal island. Nope, still not jealous. Much.”

[/ezcol_1half_end]

One way we can get more out of each exercise session, or dance class or yoga practice is to invite and accept the chance to learn something new every single time we enter the activity. Obligation, forced effort, ‘going through the motions’ are the antithesis of “taking it to the mat.” We’ve heard the quote “you never step in the same river twice” and “taking it to the mat” embodies this quote also.

When we learn we change. We arrive for the very next session more informed, with new impetus, maybe a new approach, certainly a deeper understanding of what we want to achieve.

I’d heard this phrase before actually, in Judo circles. “Take it to the Mat” means “BRING IT” in this context. Don’t talk about it — SHOW ME, DO IT! There’s a confidence, a call to action to get going and move to action as soon as we can. That level of assertion is what many of us need, a personal push to get up and out, get practicing, get going.

“Take it to the mat. Please wash feet first.”

Robert reminded me today to step back and think about my own training. I’ve been on the edge of removing traditional exercises from my repertoire. And old habits? Well, they die hard.

But today, as least a few of those old habits got the chop and I released two new variations that felt incredible and opened up a whole new progression route for me. Negative self talk disappeared and a fresh confidence emerged and I now have “the bug” to train still after many years!

So. Today. Take it to the mat. Get in there and learn something new about your practice. Hi fives all around.

This post was written by administrator