Sitting before class started I sat for a few minutes meditating or trying to while my body was in the space of soon to be teaching. I read a quote aloud at the bottom of the meditation sheet, interesting, I read it again.

‘Hassles aren’t of the people. They are of the age – the duality. One must stand to the truth for we are not liberated by hassle.’

Yogi Bhajan

I didn’t read it in class, it was my first with students and I wanted to get through it smoothly, over time I will find my style. Though I thought of the hassles I had that very morning, even at 4 am.

Hassle 1:
I had everything prepared for class but I couldn’t find my bra. Yep, the white highly important item and worth-the-money-comfy M&S bra I wear daily. Gone, vanished, camouflaged somewhere I do not know where yet. This really bothered me – How? Where? So annoying! I pulled out a white sports bra to wear under my whites.

Hassle 2:
The cupboard built the night before did not go with the room at all, I had bought the wrong colour and out of pride and convenience of not going back to Ikea, I claimed – It’ll be fine, it’ll work! It did not and we had already built it and it was near impossible to take apart. Though I had a receipt and strong enough need to buy the bedside cabinet in white like the original plan. I couldn’t deal with that till later so it became a ‘half job to add in the schedule’ in my mind.

Anyway, I let things be and taught the class and it went wonderfully! I feel such joy from giving people the time and space to breathe, stretch and relax.

I got home, clearheaded I pulled out another bra of the same size and later that day drove to Ikea, put my half-built cabinet in my trolley and exchanged it absolutely no problem. Thank you, Universe and Ikea’s returns policy.

Each day we may find ourselves collecting a hassle – last night instead of going to bed early I stayed up to do a meal plan sheet, this morning my eyes hurt and Day 29 Kirtan Kriya was very sleepy time instead of blissful.

Oh, such a hassle.

When we are in hassle we are in duality, instead, we can get to the truth of the matter and feel lighter. We are not liberated by hassle so why focus so much on it?

Learn from it, move on to make a better day. Notice what is true and what you CAN do.

Yoga and meditation won’t give us a magical experience and all the answers overnight. They do give us the tools to tune up our attitude towards hassles and problems. Instead of internal or external chatter we get to – I’ll figure it out. I’m okay.

Do you have any niggles or hassles that come up in your journey? I’d love to know in the comments below!