Sewing Your Way to Svadhyaya

I’m a terrible seamstress. I remember my grandmother trying to teach me to knit (or crochet- the distinction is lost on me). She taught my sister and I at the same time. My little sister. Six years little. Two months later, the little sister had with quick nimble fingers knitted a rainbow of scarves for everyone in our family, her friends and even me. I had a four by four inch scrap of yellow knitted effort with some holes from missed stitches, which I kept hidden in a drawer. I can “sew” which means jab the cloth with a needle unevenly and create cohesion is a messy haphazard way. You get the idea. Perhaps, you will laugh then at my next suggestion.
Yoga has taught me that working at poses, activities and skills that I don’t like or feel comfortable with can teach me a great deal about myself. Svadhyaya, a principle of Yoga, means self study and self reflection. There are poses I avoid, ones that show my physical weaknesses or my challenges. So, this is why I’m trying to sew. I spent last night hunched over the table forming an eye pillow, focusing with the minutes flying, practicing focus. It took me several tries to thread the needle, practicing patience. I can’t say I won’t need some neck and shoulders asana but I’m proud. I created something. The final creation isn’t perfect, the stitches waver drunkenly and one of the bags leaked some rice which just means I’m able to practice compassion.
These eye relaxation pillows are wonderful for restorative yoga as well as your Savasana. Try using recycled fabric from an old t-shirt and filling with rice, flax seed and your favorite relaxing herb. My first project: eye relaxation pillows.