Flexibility

Once on the yoga mat it is hard to hide from the real hard facts. In real life we can dress for success, we can hide our flaws with over sized clothing. We can mask our imperfections with make-up, and we can style our hair in a way that is flattering.
The proverbial rubber hits the road, happens on the yoga mat. On my yoga mat is where things get messy. I am challenged each time I go to yoga and there is no hiding. I already knew that I needed yoga so that I could move with ease while chasing an active 3 year old, but the reality of how non-flexible I am shows its ugly head every time.  Take tonight for example, we were almost done with yoga we were in the final stretch, so I was plenty warm and had already been stretching for an hour, when the instructor had us sit with our leg extended and reach for our toes, not rounding our back but hinging at the waist. She mentioned that it is ok if we couldn't go very far. There I was with my legs extended as far as they would go, and that wasn't very far, trying with all my might to hinge not bend my waist over to the floor. I was able to go about 3 inches. I am so UN-flexible. I don't think there was visible movement when I tried to hinge at the waist.
Yoga isn't for the most flexible people, although I am amazed at how flexible some people are. Yoga is for everyone. For as inflexible as I was last night I have been stretching and practicing yoga for almost 3 years and I have seen huge strides in my flexibility. My back, shoulder, legs, you name it, it has become more flexible. Will I ever be able to sit with my legs extended and touch my tummy to the floor, like my 5 year old can so easily do? Probably not but knowing that I am getting better all the time helps and I can stand and touch my toes, which I could not do when I started. Yoga is about taking the baby steps and celebrating even the small victories that happen each time I come to the mat!