“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” - Napoleon Hill

As well as the mind of woman.

So here’s how this one starts her day: 20 minutes of Hatha Yoga (physical postures)followed by 10 minutes of meditation.

It’s not always easy; in fact, it’s often quite challenging. Easier would be stayin’ in bed and dreaming about doing yoga, but heave-ho and up I go…

All these years I’ve taught kind and gentle approaches through the physical movements of yoga, yet lately I’ve been finding it far more difficult to offer that same grace to myself during my quiet morning practice. I catch myself growing frustrated when my body doesn’t move as effortlessly or as fluidly as it once did. Some mornings rolling out the yoga mat feels kinda like an act of determination rather than inspiration.

Even my meditation practice has become a lesson in patience; more than once I’ve caught myself glancing at my Insight Timer app (a cool free meditation app) only to discover that a mere two minutes have passed rather than ten.

Like so many of us, I struggle with motivation to improve my physical self. I feel discouraged when it’s not going as planned or when my body takes confusing and demanding detours.

Achieving “what my mind can conceive,” as Napoleon Hill so eloquently states, is not working well with my backbends these days; that’s for sure.

My lower back today prefers a softer morning conversation and isn’t fully awake yet, and honestly, fair enough. So I go from lying in a soft, warm bed to lying on a cold, hard floor with knees bent. Giving in with kindness to the stiff sensations muttering within, and admittedly catching myself dreaming of that soft bed again.

Simple breaths and bliss till the final bell gongs and meditation fully beckons.

Afterwards, I sit down with my journal - journaling is another something I do every day after meditating - and stoically begin writing down the profundities that come to mind…

Hatha was difficult.

But I inadvertently leave out the “t,” so it reads instead:

Haha difficult.

Honestly that typo may be the wisest thing I write all morning.

Yet, ever determined, I journal on:

• Continue moving forward with courage and character.
• Go a little easier on yourself in your inner dialogue.
• Try not to forget the occasional well-timed “Haha” along the way.

Joan Budilovsky, PhD, can be reached at editorial@kcchronicle.com or Yoyoga.com.