Wordless Wednesday: The Yoga of Cooking

A couple Sundays ago, I was feeling rushed. I had to clean the house, make soup and bake bread, meet a friend for her first yoga class at the studio I attend, and make it home before we had friends over for dinner. As I was nearing panic mode, I looked down at the work spread in front of me.

I took a deep breath and the words I have heard my yoga teacher say came to me. Yoga is not just asanas. Yoga can be practiced in each moment, each breath. I looked deeply at each beautiful, nourishing, life-giving ingredient.

I let go of my need to be all places at all times and called my friend to tell her I wasn't able to go to yoga class that day. I shifted my focus to the present moment and noticed how my knife felt as it chopped and thought about the joy that the soup would bring to my friends and family. With that shift in perspective, the act of cooking became my yoga practice.

The soup ended up being enjoyed by all (even my husband who claimed he didn't care for lentils before). I was calm and had a great time visiting with our company without being rushed. My friend ended up going to the yoga class on her own and enjoyed her experience. I learned that I do not always need a mat, a studio, or the perfect pose to practice mindfulness. I just need a shift in perspective and yoga is within my reach.

Namaste,
Amber