COLD WATER LAUNDRY

It started with a teeny-tiny change: washing my clothing in cold water. In 2013, I took a weekend workshop with Travis Eliot — it was the first time I met him in person after practicing his DVDs for months. I was quickly becoming deeply inspired by the discipline and philosophy of yoga through the lens of Power Yoga. In his workshop, I learned about the concept of the Eight Limbs of Yoga and there was a focus on the first two: the Yamas & Niyamas.

At the end of the workshop, Travis gave us the invitation to pick one of the Yamas or Niyamas and begin to apply it in smalls way in our lives. He also gave us the invitation to email him a month later and let him know how it was going.

As a self-proclaimed lifelong-student and “recovering perfectionist,” I followed the assignment to a “T.” I put asteya (non-stealing) into action through a small act — I started washing my clothes in cold water. And I sent an email to Travis telling him about it!

How is this asteya, exactly? Aren’t there much more important ways to practice sustainability and taking only what we need? Wouldn’t there be better ways for me to save money and the planet than using less power to heat my laundry water? Absolutely! But…I had to start somewhere.

If I had let the idea of making huge, life-shifting changes take over and slip completely into my perfectionist ways, I would have been too overwhelmed to even begin. So, I started small. And this is how all the major shifts in my life got started — from taking the leap to move to Costa Rica (which began by writing a simple email) to becoming a full-time yoga teacher (which started by having the courage to talk to an inspiring teacher after class — hint: it was Lauren.)

We don’t have to have all our “ducks in a row” before we begin. We can create massive shifts in the direction we want to head in our lives simply by taking one small baby step.

So, I invite you to be very present. And instead of trying to come up with a plan to change your whole life in the future, ask yourself “what can I do today to move in that general direction?” And who knows — maybe deciding to wash your clothes in cold water may one day lead you to working closely with some of the very people who inspired you to want to make a change in the first place!

Here are some recommended practices with Brittany:

https://www.innerdimensionyoga.com/classes/morning-wake-up

https://www.innerdimensionyoga.com/classes/activate

https://www.innerdimensionyoga.com/classes/full-body-flow

https://www.innerdimensionyoga.com/classes/high-spirits

by Brittany