Perhaps you are a “one breath, one movement” kinda yoga person or possibly you dig the “static” feeling of “holding” in an asana (posture)… But I want you to wrap your head around this, YOU ARE NEVER STILL. As humans, our breath is movement, we continually make tiny little micro movements to adjust for balance and to relax worn out muscles, even in our rest we experience REM in the deepest of sleep (Rapid Eye Movement in case you forgot what it stood for). We are constantly moving.

This “battle” (if you can even really call is that, I’m mother nature clearly had it in her plan to make it so we move even in our stillness.. still as you maybe able to hold yourself, chances are you’re still kinda moving) of stillnes vs. moving is something us yogis and yoginis confront every time our toes touch the mat and really what I have discovered is I want stillness in my mind, but I want to wiggle my body! I do mean wiggle it, sure we’re doing asana (postures) and there is some kinda of breathing (pranayama) whether it be ujjayi (that darth vader like breath you sometimes here from your neighbor) or just trying to slow your normal breath back down, so there is movement of the yoga practice. Wiggling or adjusting/micro movements or not so micro movement truly is just that, you gotta move that  body!

So there it is, the dynamic of a mind not moving, but a body that continuously moves. Wiggling can settle the mind when it’s super active, it can allow a little humor if your body is feeling particularly tense, and it can bring a smile to your face when you are having a rough one. I know it seems silly with all the “important” things that need to be done when you’re on the mat, but wiggling can be bending the knees, the elbows, swaying slightly, shaking the head a little or any other movement that makes a pose feel even better! Heck you can kick your feet in down-dog like you’re trying to get into handstand if that is what your body calls for, but this is where stillness in your mind is required, you need to be able to feel your body to know what kind of wiggling will feel good. So it’s not just mindless movement, it’s taking a static pose (you know, when the teacher says 5 breaths in down dog, plank, or child’s pose perhaps) and moving slightly (or not so slightly) so that you can find YOUR pose! What is right for your body…. so I challenge you, next time your toes touch your mat, find a little wiggle-asana, I bet you will discover that your down dog may be different (bent knees, feet wider apart) or that sometimes child’s pose is better with your legs together so your breath makes your belly press into your thighs which then moves the spine… A little movement can make your yoga a little sweeter and I’d love to hear about how you find some wiggle room in your practice?