From the Mat, One Size Does Not Fit All

Have you ever removed a garment from a rack in a clothing shop to check its size? Of course you have. We all do that. 

Usually we see a numerical designation or even S, M, L, or XL, and we know whether the item will fit. Sometimes, though, the tag says "One Size Fits All" which, for me, is a sign to return that thing to the rack, pronto!

One Size Fits All? How can that be? Unless we are all identical (we're not) there's really no way a garment is going to fit every one of us perfectly. It defies logic. That whole sizing method suits manufacturers, not consumers. Sure, a loose-fitting top will slip on many figures and might even look decent, but fitting "all"? Nope, not buying it. 

Also, count me out of the idea that what we need should be so generic that it doesn't account for the heart and soul of a person. I don't want to walk through the world with a "slip-it-on-it'll-be-fine" attitude. Remember the Stepford Wives? Yikes!

Sure, we're all the same...yet we are unique—and that deserves to be respected. What we do with our time here is customizable. The individuality of a person should be supported and encouraged. We have different needs, dreams, thoughts, bodies, expectations—the list can go on but you get the idea. 

One size does not fit all—and that goes not only for garments but for yoga, too. 

I said it and I mean it. Yoga is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. 

It is a size-for-everyone modality, inclusive and accessible to all. Thinking yoga is the same for every person, every body, every soul is ridiculous. It's an authentic experience that is as diverse as the humans who practice it. And it has been, for thousands of years. 

In any yoga class the experiences from mat to mat vary dramatically. The instructor may be leading a set of postures or facilitating a breathing practice but no two people in the room are having the exact same journey. Whatever is being led is landing differently with each person—and that's precisely how it should be. 

Yoga is for everyone—and in a "size" that is an absolute perfect fit for each of us. There are endless ways to find the yogic path that elevates, resonates, and nourishes. One journey may look similar to another but if you peek beneath the surface you'll see that what lands, and how it shows up, is as wonderfully unique as the practitioner. 

So, when I hear someone declare they don't fit the "yoga mold" I'm quick to point out that there is no mold. It isn't a one-size-fits-all, off-the-rack item. 

Yoga can be like wearing a hand-tailored garment. Sewn exactly to your proportions, in your favorite color, with support to make you feel secure but enough stretch that there's ease in movement. There are endless options for customizing a yoga practice that make this universally accessible. 

How to make this fantastic fit work for you? Try some things on. Chanting, breathing practices, poses on the mat, different types of classes, postures off the mat, reading, mantra—see what fits and whether it resonates or seems silly. See what works to bring you to the point where you are effortlessly at ease—or closer to thinking that what you wrap around yourself supports your true self and encourages your journey on this path we call life. 

Yoga: Not one-size-fits-all. 

Yoga: A size for everyone.