Tag: perfect imperfection

At the perfect time, in the perfect place, Christine happily does yoga imperfectly
fitness · flexibility · self care · yoga

At the perfect time, in the perfect place, Christine happily does yoga imperfectly

Christine Hennebury

I was away on a writing retreat with some dear friends this past weekend (our group is called the Strident Women so you can imagine what a genteel gathering it was.)

image description: a downward angled view of a long lawn and some trees that far the viewers attention toward the water that is visible at a slight distance. It is a sunny day with some clouds in the blue sky. There are two houses in the photo, one is between the viewer and the water, and other is partially visible on the right hand side.
Obviously a place of utter misery. (I’m kidding, of course, our retreat location is delightful.) image description: a downward angled view of a long lawn and some trees that far the viewers attention toward the water that is visible at a slight distance. It is a sunny day with some clouds in the blue sky. There are two houses in the photo, one is between the viewer and the water, and other is partially visible on the right hand side.

I did some writing and a lot of relaxing. I needed the break far more than I needed to get words on paper at the moment, so I spend a fair bit of time reading, drawing, doing yoga, meditating, and I even managed to practice my TKD patterns a few times.

A few years ago, I would have been frustrated at myself for ‘frittering away’ a writing weekend but I have gotten much better at being kind to myself and at responding to what I really need instead of what I *should* do.

Image description: a smirking selfie that I took before I started my practice outside today.​ I have messy curls in my chin length light brown hair, and I am wearing a black shirt with white lettering on the sleeve. My headphones are hanging around my neck. Behind me, you can see a reddish door and beige wooden siding.
Yes, I will still smirk in a perfect time and a perfect place. Image description: a smirking selfie that I took before I started my practice outside today. I’m a white middle-aged woman, I have messy curls in my chin length light brown hair, and I am wearing a black shirt with white lettering on the sleeve. I look a bit sleepy. My headphones are hanging around my neck. Behind me, you can see a reddish door and beige wooden siding.

And I’m grateful for that shift in my thinking because it meant I could thoroughly enjoy my weekend and I could be fully present to practice yoga imperfectly on the front deck on our last morning. It was slightly chilly but it was bright and the sun was shining through the clouds every so often and I could hear the waves nearby.

It felt it would be the most perfect time and place to practice.

It was.

Image description: a top down view of my crossed legs. I am wearing grey patterned leggings and black and white slip-on sneakers. I’m sitting on my blue patterned mat which, in turn, is resting on the weathered wood of the deck.
My new favourite leggings. They have pockets! I kept my shoes on because of the chill – another perfectly acceptable imperfect part of today’s practice. Image description: a top down view of my crossed legs. I am wearing grey patterned leggings and black and white slip-on sneakers. I’m sitting on my blue patterned mat which, in turn, is resting on the weathered wood of the deck.