The Emperor's New Clothes

I got my new yoga shorts today!

They arrived this afternoon, so I was able to wear them to my second class today.  They fit well, were generally comfortable, and more importantly they moved well and there was no binding as I went through all of the postures.  The fabric is moderately heavy to provide a modicum of modesty.  Well, as much modesty as wearing nothing but form fitting shorts can allow.

I was not aware just how much sweat my other shorts wicked from my body during my yoga practice.  With the new shorts, I think my legs were doubly wet, which I did not even consider to be within the realm of possibility.  I also had not given much thought to how much more exposed I would feel.  If I felt half naked before, now I feel almost fully exposed.

I think to the story of the emperor's new clothes, his procession naked through the streets, and nobody saying a word.  Yoga is similar in that nearly everyone in the room is wearing as little as possible, every curve and imperfection bare.  The difference is that everyone walks into the room knowing full well they are in their most raw form.

There is a beauty in facing yourself in the mirror like that.  For those that are not familiar, Bikram yoga is practiced facing a wall covered in mirrors.  The first lines of every class, "everyone stand and face the mirror."  Facing a mirror, you are really facing yourself, forced to see the naked truth or free to see the beauty of where you are in that moment.

I was surprised how comfortable I was standing nearly naked in the full mirror.  It was not something I could have comfortably done before I started this challenge.  It was not a direction in which I expected to grow.  I am glad this is a journey that can still surprise me.

Namaste.