Subscribe to RSS.
Become a Fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter (Named #1 in US 4 Green)
Subscribe to Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Get on Elephant
Yoga survival tip # 648. [Random Feet on Your Yoga Mat.]
by Sarah Miller
I had a student/friend email me today and ask sincerely: “what do you do when someone steps on your yoga mat?!” I almost turned this into a Yoga Snob piece, but then realized the beauty of the question.
What an opportunity to take what we learn on the mat, off the mat. [Pun entirely intended.]
A few thoughts immediately came to mind.
Are you able to confront the person about this? Why or why not? Why do you care in the first place? What are the emotions that come up? Ownership, infringement of personal space, cleanliness concerns??
Ask your self what some of the root causes of those feelings are. In any way or form can this deepen your practice, your understanding of who you are and your world around you? Are you able to let these feelings dissolve? Or do you need to hold on to them for some reason?
I also pondered the reality of mindfulness in the midst of such a question. Is it 
more mindful to speak up and say something, or just let it be a personal dialogue within? I suppose someone walking on your mat could feel like a car being parked on your front lawn. (Oh the nerve!!)
Ultimately everything comes down to our response. Acting out of compassion for your Self may mean finally speaking up. For others it may mean finally shutting up. Tempering our responses with a little of both is possibly the most mindful approach.
Balance in our actions? Yes, balance in thought, word and action. Truly a yogic response. On, or off the mat.
Next time someone steps on your yoga mat, what will your response be?!
I get irritated and don't say anything. I roll up my mat quickly after class so folks don't step on it on the way to changing or putting away their mats. It does bring up subtle, and not-so-subtle irritations, for sure! Great stuff to "work with," in Buddhist parlance.
AWWWWWW… THAT POOR PERSON GOT THEIR YOGA MAT STEPPED ON!!!
All I have to say is…GET THE F**K OVER IT, or don't go to yoga.
I teach five year olds and this is what this sounds like!!!
Sarah, Please stop coddling (and entertaining) the whinings of the overly entitled with a pondering of such nonsense!
Please, write about things that actually matter.
To the person who has a serious problem with someone (not intentionally) stepping on their yoga mat (cause I don't know anyone who vindictively steps on yoga mats)..Please do us all a favor and get some prospective!
Take a trip and realize it's not ALL about you.
[...] 29, 2009 · Leave a Comment Sarah Miller at Elephant Journal brings up some interesting questions about the nature of mindfulness and its extension from internal [...]
I think it's common courtesy not to step on someone else's mat. I'm not sure how I would handle the situation. Depending on the circumstances I would probably say "Would you mind not stepping on my mat?" There is no need to be agressive about the issue. I know that no one would step on another's mat vindictively, they just may not realize that it isn't proper to step on another's mat. Part of the reason that I lug around my own mat is to be assured of it's cleanliness. I put my face on the thing and would prefer not having to wonder I just lay down on a bit of athelete's foot.
On the occasions where I have accidentally stepped on someone's mat, a simple "I'm sorry" suffices.