As I was resting between Series B salutations in downward dog, I noticed the grey stains on my yellow yoga mat which I received a year ago. A large grey stain at the top where my hands were and one at the bottom where my feet were. You'd think I'd be a little sad that my favorite mellow yellow yoga mat had these two large stains, but I'm not. No, not at all. Instead these stains made me think back and reflect. An entire year of practice happened on this very yoga mat.
Those stains are more than dirt and sweat. They are symbols of dedication, tears, release, and strength. That mat and those stains have a story to tell. The story of its owner that came to the mat everyday. The comfy cushion and support it gave both physically and mentally. There is not a day that goes by where my body does not connect with my yoga mat. Every time it does, it imparts more stains, more imprints of the story of my life to be absorbed.
My yoga mat comes with me everywhere. On quick trips, to flights on a plane. It has been that one piece of soft comfort in a place far from home. The stains it has accumulated over the year tell a story not only of a yoga practice, but of a journey. Each day more of that journey gets pressed into the mat. The first thing my body touches as I get out of bed is my unrolled yellow yoga mat. Of course it becomes stained. It has seen it all. From my yoga practice and at-home lifting, to simply lying down flat on my back, relishing its safe rectangle.
Those stains on the top and bottom of my yoga mat are pieces of artwork from the journey of my year. Artwork made from tears, frustration, pain, and anger. Also love, pride, joy, strength, comfort, and beauty. No journey is ever going to stay neat and clean. It develops stains, dirt, and use. There should be these marks; these marks are representations that living and growth took place. They are marks that say a journey took place here and there is a story that can be told.
Those stains under my hands and feet, the connection between my yellow yoga mat and I. The words I have given it, the story it tells. An outsider may look at those dirty stains and see flaws, but I see a unique life. That life and that story will only ever be fully known by my yellow yoga mat and I. My mat has accepted me and was willing to be the base of my story, my journey. It never judged, it allowed space to growth, space to cry, and space to thrive.
I take pride in those grey stains. Two beautiful marks of life. I smile when I see them, upside down or centimeters from my face as I practice inversions. I smile when my hands and feet connect with those two spots. The base for my of my story to be written. Unjudged and always welcoming, no matter what I have to say, no matter what I bring with me to the mat, or where I pick up that mat and go. My yellow yoga mat and those stains are a part of my journey. A part of my story. They will grow and absorb it all. Every imperfect and every moment of my story.
So tell me:
+ Do the stains on your yoga mat tell a story?
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Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments
I love this way of looking at it! Sometimes I forget that stains and tears are memories and accomplishments in disguise! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They can be beautiful stories!
purelytwins
love this post!! so inspiring, we really need to get back into yoga. It has been months!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Yoga on!
Victoria Sneden
This is an incredible piece. Yoga is an ongoing commitment and those stains are a definite sign that your relationship with yoga is something that other people strive to achieve. Jealous!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Everyone can get those stains! May they be on a yoga mat or elsewhere!
Linda Blatchford
It's beautiful that you recognize the journey and commitment to yoga those stains represent. I have just decided I need to do some exercise of some kind, I'm wearing my fat jeans.
From Create with Joy http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/2015/01/january-birthstone-garnet.html
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Linda!
It is never too late to start getting active and enjoy all the wonderful benefits!
Katherines Corner
I love this post and what it represents!!! I pinned to my meditation and yoga board. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O thank you so much Katherine! XOXO
karissa
Your dedication to yoga is something you should be proud of. It's great you view your stains that way! Thank you for linking up on Motivational Monday, hope you will join us again!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com
I think a lot of people would appreciate this piece, Rebecca. Nice job! Tweeting today! The title really grabbed me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Lori!
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
Great post... so beautifully written & inspiring!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Amanda @ The Kolb Corner
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Amanda!
Sharon Rowe
What a beautiful post thanks for sharing on How To Organized At Home:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you.
Sheila Kimball
Hi Rebecca -- your post is the nudge I need. I have neglected my mat in the last year and my body is groaning. And my soul. And the two are so interconnected. This year I was passing on One Word but I asked God and He whispered FREEDOM and I believe it is freedom in spirit, soul -- my will, mind and emotions, as well as body. Time to just do it!! Here's to next year and my mat being worn and smudged with the imprint of my story. Glad to stumble upon you at UNITE. Blessings and hugs...
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Your mind and body are connected! You can absolutely find freedom on the mat! I know I have 🙂
XOXO
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Wow, that is so moving, Rebecca.
I need to tell you my yoga story one day. You'll lose all respect for me.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Arman 🙂
O boy......should I be scared? Haha!
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits
It's so true that the wear and tear on our yoga mats tell us a lot about our journey. I can't tell if there are many stains on there (as it's navy blue), but I know I've put in a lot of hours on it when it starts rubbing off on my skin!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm sure you have Lisa! We leave our stories on our mats and our mats even leave with us too! Haha!
Sandra Laflamme
My yoga mat tells a story of release and letting go. My yoga tells the story of laughing and silliness with my kids as they try to mimic me doing yoga. Hopefully I can spend more time on my mat this year. Thank you for sharing your journey on the mat.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Beautiful things from a beautiful story Sandra! XOXO
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama
My husband got me a new yoga mat last year for my birthday. He had made a comment that my old one was looking a little worn so he thought I'd like one in better shape. I too, had the permanent hand and feet marks. There was also a rip from one session where I tried to slide my heel forward. To me the stains weren't gross but signs of hard work and a commitment to my practice. I still have my old mat and pull it out every now and then just because it has tons of memories.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That is so great Angela! I too will always cherish my very first mat. It is so fragile now I'm scared to use it again! It literally falls to pieces when I take it out. But the stories it holds!
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac
Whether they are worn patches on my yoga mat or bruises on my shins, I always looks at my battle wounds with pride. They mean that I tried. I lived. I played and embraced the strength and determination of my body. So 2015, bring on the smudges!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfectly said Casey 🙂 The battle wounds are trophies to cherish!
Francesca
Wonderful. Namaste -xo-
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Namaste 😉
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life
You are such a beautiful writer Rebecca. Your mat tells the story of a woman who is beautiful inside and out. I love it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Christina! XOXO
Renee @ Bendiful Blog
Beautiful. And yes those are mark of honor. I have a brand new yoga mat now but my old one showed all the signed of hard work and dedication.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you 🙂
Soon enough your new mat will tell a story too!
rachel
What a beautiful narrative! I don't do yoga (as much as I should)... but I know that the stretch marks on my body tell a story of my journey of where I have come, how far I have to go, what my body is capable of (growing life) and so much more. The callouses and blue toenails remind me of how many miles my legs/feet are able to carry me. Oh this is so true ... thank you for sharing! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Rachel 🙂
Yes, the marks on our bodies are ALL beautiful and tell the most raw and deep stories of what we have gone through!
Heather @ FITaspire
How poetic, what a great to look back and see your experiences throughout the past year. My yoga mat hasn't gotten much love last year, but I do have font memories of it. I need to find more space for yoga. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Heather. Yes! Make some time to get on the mat, even if just for 10 minutes!
Rebecca
Great perspective! We often forget what we've been through & what's helped us get to where we are. Love that your yoga mat has been so many things & you can remember those memories by simply looking at it 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Exactly! Every time I step on to my mat, I can just feel all the moments and memories I have had!
Lux Ganzon
Every stain has a story. Like in life, every scar has a history that made us into what we are. Beautifully written, dear. 🙂
I hope to try yoga too this year. I'm excited for the stories my mat will tell. 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much 🙂 We can find stories in almost anything!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf
I absolutely love this post. Yes! So many stories, so much life and experience that we lay bare on our mats. My old mat was totally falling apart - starting to shred where my feet are in downdog and where my hands are but I had the hardest time parting with that mat because it had seen me through so much. And those worn out spots were so comforting. I have a new mat that isn't quite broken in yet but I look forward to leaving marks and stains and impressions on it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, my first old pink mat will always have special meaning to it! Even though it is shredded and falling apart (you could find pink foam all over my room!), I will always hold that one close! I love how each mat can tell a different story too! As the practices change, growth happens, and years progress, each mat sees a different period in our lives!
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit
What a lovely post! It's like your yoga mat is a record of your practices and a reflection of your progress. My yoga mat is black, so the stains are invisible but I know they're there.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Haha, your story is just a bit more hidden, but of course it is there 😉
I have a black yoga mat I never used actually! I randomly got it from some company a few months ago...I have no idea why!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak
Love this! I can relate but in terms of my running shoes. Running sneakers get dirty, muddy, etc...and even though I love when they're fresh out of the box, seeing them all beat up reminds me of where I've been, my running adventures, my races with my mom and more. My current sneakers are white though so it's been hard seeing them get dirty! lol the first 5K race I ran with them was right after it rained so I had no choice but to get them muddy :'(
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And once those things get dirty and used, they are so much more comforting and molded to our being! They become part of us! I know I will definitely have a hard time ever getting new running shoes. This first pair of mine means SO much!
Rachael@AvocadoADayNutrition
What a beautiful post! Just the other day I was feeling sad about how the pattern on my hand-painted yoga mat was starting to wear, then I remembered that's what it was supposed to do. It was a years worth of hard work on that mat! Could write a similar story today - although after a week of daily Bikram yoga, it might have to be called the smells on my yoga mat! : )
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Rachael 🙂
Hehe, that means it's time to break out the mat cleaner 😉
Emily @ Zen & Spice
Inspiring post 🙂 One of my new years resolutions is to do more yoga at home. I got a super cute new yoga mat for Christmas and I decided to give away my pink yoga mat that I've had for over 6 years (I got it my freshman year of college) and I almost cried when I gave it away. But new year, new beginnings, new mat 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Haha, I still have my first pink yoga mat! I would never give it away though! It's just resting in my closet 😉
Taylor @ LiftingRevolution
Unfortunately I think my lack of stains on my mat is a sign I need to get on it more! I did use it yesterday for a workout though so that's progress!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It totally is! My yoga mat is used for so much more than yoga! Haha!
lindsay
haha same! but i am determined to get them back this year. I totally get the message though Rebecca! Love it
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Lindsay.
Sarah Gaines
Wonderfully written post and a beautiful way to look at it. Namaste and happy 2015!
-Sarah
http://www.gofitu.com
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Sarah! Namaste 😉
Emily
This is a wonderful post! My yoga mat has a few crayon marks on it and some scuffs. Nothing too crazy- just shows that it never leaves my house!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Those marks and scuffs are just part of your story 😉
Sonali- The Foodie Physician
This is such a wonderfully written post. Really beautiful Rebecca. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Sonali!
Ana Valentin
I loved this post. This is honestly a metaphor for anything in life. From scars to internal "stains" if you will. I don't have any stains on my yoga mat but that could be because it's fairly dark in color!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Ana! It is. It's a metaphor for everything! Every struggle and story.
(Haha, yea...if you have a dark colored mat...you might not see the stains 😉 XOXO)
Ana Valentin
Lord knows I've spilled so much on it if only because I leave it out to just sit on whenever I please
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I love this! It's so true and I am feeling the same about the lines on my face starting to appear, the saggy skin on my stomach from 3 pregnancies and the various burn scars I have from cooking for so many years! It all tells a beautiful story of how we got to where we are now 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
YES Michele! The stories our bodies tell are like no other! It pains me when people try to hide those marks and change them! All those marks are just part of your strength and beautiful story!
Emily @My Healthyish Life
What a beautiful metaphor for yoga practice and life 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Emily! XOXO
Jen
This is so beautiful. Yoga is something I want to start practicing once I've recovered from surgery I'm having at the end of the month. I look forward to experiencing this kind of connection.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yoga will be a wonderful form of recovery! You can make it as slow and fluid as you need!
RFC
There are no stains on my yoga mat....because shamefully I don't use it. I keep thinking I NEED to incorporate yoga into my training routing, I just haven't been able to find the time (or motivation) yet! Maybe this will be the year. Great post Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It can be the year! You'll be surprised by how much you can GROW on the mat!
Kelly
This is such a great piece, Rebecca. Such a beautiful way to reflect on your practice. Here's to another year of stains. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Kelly! To more stains!
Carla
YES YES YES TEARS YES YES YES.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Carla <3
Farrah
That's an awesome way to look at it, and way more positive than I think I would've been! (My first thought would probably have been, "Noooo! How much will it cost to replace this? :'(") I love the positive spin you put on it! ;] I'll have to flip that mentality over for if I end up wearing out some of my favorite workout clothes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Use in anything shows our passions and tells a story. Haha, the stains are a metaphor here. My mat will be with my until is is completely ripped and shredded!