Can't Get You Out of My Head

It's just a few days before I start teaching my yoga class. I wore shoes yesterday that have left me virtually crippled. Those two unrelated things are now intertwined.
It hurts to stand, and it certainly hurts to walk, move or down dog it.
So no mat time today. Boo hiss.
This actually brought to mind something important: yoga when it's not yoga practice.
For me, yoga is more than time on the mat. It's also the time spent meditating. It's time spent eating healthy. It's time spent practicing pranayama. It's about being hydrated. It's about rest. There are other ways to move and groove.
It's important to remember that any discipline be it running, weight lifting or yoga, most of your practice happens outside your practice. Many other factors influence it, including what you eat and your mindset. I can't be promoting love and peace in class if I'm not promoting it elsewhere.
Yoga is about your mind as much as it is about your body. Running is very similar. I have friends who are marathoners who speak of the mind body connection-if you're not feeling it you're not running it.
I will admit I've been out of my head lately. Juggling all the balls I currently have up in the air has caused me to drop a few. There's quite a bit of negativity around me, and I find myself trying to conquer it. Honestly, I know that I will never live up to some people's standards, despite how hard I try.
Sure, it would be great if you liked me for me. However no matter what kind of force of nature I am, not everyone appreciates that. I've expanded so much energy on it lately, it's left me with little energy to go to the mat.
This little respite caused by a bad pair of shoes will end. Tonight I will soak them in Epsom salt and they will be fine. The respite has also given me a chance to re-evaluate and recharge, to get it out of my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFx3WX4DES0&feature=youtube_gdata_player