As if!

No, I haven’t quit practicing. But I did quit a lot of what I’ve been practicing for the past few years:

I quit scoring my daily practice.

I quit trying to be a professional ashtangi; I even ditched the collegiate game. Now I’m just playing at the Club level.

I quit comparing what happens on my mat to what happens on yours.

I quit feeling guilty about what I have or have not practiced.

I quit listening to the ashtanga police I conjured in my head.

I quit being the police myself.

I quit writing about practice so much (ok, this one might not last forever).

I quit letting “Ashtanga” practice me. I practice. Nothing practices me.

I quit listening to everyone else, except for the people who matter.

I quit caring about how to categorize or label what I do on my mat everyday and whether my practice counts as “real.”

I quit reading yoga blogs like this one.

I quit being a bitchy yoga commentator (i hope, kinda sorta maybe)?

I quit acting like someone had put gluten in my muffin, especially online (see above and watch below; Kenan says it around 2:45)

I quit being right (except vis a vis my husband, duh).

I quit wearing stinky clothes, since I found this. (Now, if only someone would share this magical detergent with you know who in the mysore room).

I quit being better than you.

I kept a few things: I kept the poses I’ve been taught, the breath (well, I try), and more importantly the simplicity of just doing it everyday. Funny enough, when I left the ashtanga mental circus I had more energy and love to release into a daily practice– I abandoned yoga on the net for yoga in the flesh. Admittedly, I’ve made a few additions, too: I added smiles, some fun, my natural irreverence, the occasional laugh and the cultivation of a sense of humor. I’ve added Saturday hip hop vinyasa class. Oh– and I’m still an asshole.

But the misery and self-judgment and all? I’ve quit that.

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For the best post ever on quitting (I know its been like totally played out by now, right?) check out this blog by Zoe Ward.