If you do not sow in the spring, you will not reap in the fall.- Irish Proverb -

I just got back from Ireland and the experience was magical. I still can't get over the energy of the island and the genuineness of the people. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it.

It is an island made up of mostly farmland and it is farmland that has not been completely kind to its people. The crops and livestock are very specific to the harsh climate of limited sun, vicious wind, and thin soil. And yet, the people are some of the most resilient and joyful humans I have ever met. There was even an Irish proverb that said "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough." And for the Irish to still believe this through all the ups and downs of the constant conquering by other countries in the past and the famines; is an amazing outlook I only hope to find.

So going back to the original Proverb in this email, in yoga we talk about how the journey to finding the pose is the important part, not the pose. Same, with the original proverb, you can't have the crops in the fall if you haven't put in the work in the spring. So don't be discouraged if you aren't flipped over in a headstand today or twisted in a side crow tomorrow. Put in the hard work on the mat, and day by day your yoga practice will grow just like plants on the land. You must begin by preparing the land (mindfulness), planting the seed (practicing on the mat), and tending to the growth (coming back to the mat often). Always remember, it is a yoga "practice," which is ongoing learning!