Okay warning - I'm going to talk about Tomatoes - Hear me out, 

I always try to grow at least one tomato plant each year, usually a cherry tomato variety as the season here in Colorado is so short. My plants usually do well.  I make sure to water them well, give a bi-weekly feed of nutrients and place them in a sunny, warm spot sheltered from the wind. 

This time of year, my plants start to fail. Just a little at first, the branches start to wilt and go yellow then brown.  The leaves start to curl and lose their vibrant green.  But as this process happens, the plant produces the brightest flowers and most fruit of the season and the sweetest. The plants start to wither but continue to produce fruit in abundance until the frost and early nights finally causes the stems to bend and the plant dies; producing its flowers or fruit as it does. 

But why am I writing about tomato plants when this is a yoga newsletter? 

There are so many times when we ignore signs that we are suffering personally, we keep producing. We struggle to maintain an output beyond our capacity knowing it is to the detriment of ourselves. For those not looking closely we may be striving, achieving, living our best life but we are struggling inside. 

We may have struggled a long time, until there is anything noticeable to the outside world. We push through and carry on, we fit in that extra thing. Eventually there is a breaking point. Depression, illness, despair. Like the tomato plants, lacking the sun and warmth necessary to their survival. We have lived with too little, for too long. 

There is a way out.

Tomatoes cannot control the seasons. Their fade is inevitable. It is determined by nature. But we can reclaim control. Self care, self compassion is not selfless.  It is absolutely necessary, if you are ever going to help anyone else to your full ability.  

Tending to your own needs; the physical, mental and spiritual is like refueling the water, nutrients and sunshine to plants. We need to show up for ourselves first.  

Yoga can help. 

Yoga provides a dedicated time to check in on you. A time to show up for you and those others in your world. Interested? Unsure where to start? Come to a community class, Subscribe to Red Cat Yoga on Youtube, Contact me for a private class. Or just continue your own practice. But find time YOU ARE IMPORTANT