elevate.

As we snuggled our mats inches from each other and relaxed into child’s pose at yoga last night, Amelia asked us to elevate the person practicing next to us – through our ujjayi breath, focus, energy, resiliency.

And, I started thinking…

What about off the mat? Because what we practice on the mat – whether it’s compassion, gratitude, forgiveness or elevation – can always be practiced off the mat.

How am I elevating – am I elevating? – the people in my life, the people I love, those I encounter on a daily basis, those random one-time run-ins at the co-op or on the sidewalk at lunch? Honestly… some days I can do better. I can listen 100 percent and be present always, undistracted by my iPhone. I can take a few extra minutes to strike up a conversation with the janitor who empties the trash at my desk every single day. I can choose to not complain about the petty things. And, I can give encouraging words to others even when I’m down, too.

Choices we make all.the.time. Choices to elevate, to lift up the people in your life, to inspire them to be better people.

How are you choosing?

How are you elevating – are you elevating? – the people in your life… your spouse? your cube neighbor at work? the yogi on the mat next to you? the driver of the car next to you in traffic?