Day 10 of IDJSIJ Challenge - Doing Jack Shit is For EveryBODY

Look at that, we’re already 10 days into our practice! Whether you are actually taking on the challenge, or just reading my random musings, I’m glad you’re still with me. I’d tell you to like and subscribe and all that jazz, but this isn’t YouTube and I’m not good about bossing people around regarding their online behavior. Just keep reading, and maybe something I write will resonate with you, and you’ll try something new.

So far I’ve offered four restorative postures and they all take place lying down on the ground, as restorative yoga generally operates. If you are the kind of person who says “If I get on the floor, I’m not getting back up until Jesus comes for me,” then you might think this practice is not for you. I do not agree!

The crux of our practice is supporting the body comfortably while resting in relaxed awareness. You do not need to be on the floor to do this, but you do need to be situated in a way where you won’t just immediately fall asleep. I am a big fan of napping, trust me. But that’s not what we’re going for here. If getting up and down off the floor is not for you, I recommend modifying your practice to a couch, recliner, or chair.

Remember on Day 7 when we talked about setting up a special space for your daily relaxation? Consider doing your session in that comfortable chair, surrounded by your touches of beauty. Dim the lights to relax the eyes, and feel every place you connect to the chair or floor – the feet, the hips, the hands resting in the lap. Bring your awareness into feeling your breath move in and out through the nostrils. Relax into the sensation of support and the rhythm of the breath. If the mind gets distracted, you can try a tool called “square breathing”. Inhale for a count of two, hold for a count of two, exhale for the count of two, and relax. Repeat this pattern, and let it go when you feel the mind quiet.

If sitting upright in a chair is not comfortable, try one of the poses we did previously but use your recliner or couch as your base. You can lay on the couch and use pillows to prop the legs, as we did in Day 9, or roll up a blanket under the knees and cover your eyes with an eye pillow like we did in Savasana on Day 3. If the end of your couch butts up against the wall, you could even try putting your legs up there! Be creative, but remember – relaxed awareness means you’re still in the waking state of consciousness. No naps!

The good news is that propping yourself up in a restorative pose either on the couch or on the floor can give the benefits of that afternoon nap, but without waking up in that confused groggy panic where you don’t know if you’ve been asleep for two minutes or two days. Don't use mobility as an excuse for why you can't do jack shit. There is always a way!