Meditation for multitaskers?

Whether it's on the mat, or working at the computer, I've been giving far too much attention to distractions over the past few days. Fuck me, to be totally honest they've been kicking my ass.

It's a universal problem, one we are all plagued with day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. From our work, to maintaining our relationships, distractions are bloody everywhere.

However, it's not the distractions themselves that are the problem, but their intensity. If we let them build, or pay them too much attention, they can start to get the better of us.

Most of you that know me, know I usually lead into yoga chat with physical and practical stand points. How by doing X we will open Y and create more space and comfort in the body. Perhaps more active range of movement, or strength. But here I go and jump into conversations of the mind – FFS.

The practice is like a meditation for multi-taskers. There's obviously movement and the breath to bring our attention to. There's the easing into flexibility and stability, concentrating on how things feel and where the tension might be. Then there's engagement, strength and alignment. There's a lot going on, a lot to think about, and our bodies, sensations and physical feedback is changing the whole way through.

Because things are changing, we notice them and then move on. Notice that feeling, and then let go as we move into another posture.

There's a lot of things to DO in a yoga practice or yoga class. And by design most of us want to do it well - or at least do it correctly. I spent a long time pushing and pulling into my yoga practice,but the biggest gains were had when I backed it up a bit, eased up, and let go. Notice the tension, the distraction, and then let it go. ( I know, so Gwyneth Paltrow, right?)