yoga mat, the long way...

So I had a dream the other night that I was in a yoga class and instead of using my yoga mat the long way, I was using it the short way, meaning, only my hands were on the mat, and someone else was on the mat with with me. In the dream I was frustrated that my lower body was on the floor instead of on the cushioned mat and that the person on the end of my mat was the reason for this.

I let it go on for half the dream until I opened my mouth to the person on the end and said, "I know that it's easier for you to balance while you are on my mat, but I need my whole mat in order to have a productive practice."

It may not sound like a lot to you, but I woke from that dream thinking it was the most profound dream I have ever had.

You see my compassion for others has sometimes gotten in the way of me taking care of myself. In the dream I was able to feel compassion for the person but still do what was right for me.

Trading my own necessities for someone else's comfort doesn't work for either of us.

The reality is, practicing yoga helps you find your balance, so whomever was on the other end of my mat needed to be set free to find their own strength. Because really, what would happen to them if I didn't make it to class one day?