In the past 3 months, I moved my whole life across the country. I wouldn’t say it was graceful or perfect – but what in life is really?

One thing I noticed during the time of the transition, where my to-do list for one month was longer than the entire previous year, was the 1,000 excuses I could come up with not to practice. I’ll be the first one to admit, a home practice is hard for me. I love the community of a studio practice. I love being led. I love being in a space that doesn’t have a pile of laundry calling my name. But since my husband had to move out early for his new job, it was home practice or bust!

At this point, I’ve done enough yoga to recognize my tendency to make excuses. As they started in: I have too much to do, my house is gross and full of moving boxes, I need to pack things… I have to be my own coach – remember that my body doesn’t know the difference between practicing in a gold palace surrounded by whirling dervishes or in my kids’ toy room surrounded by legos. The only real barrier, as is so often the case, was the imaginary barriers I was creating. The only thing I needed was my mat.

So as the holidays approach and you head into a time of stress, travel, excess and temptation of all shapes, tastes and sizes, remember that your body can’t tell the difference if you’re practicing in the laundry room at Uncle Ted’s house or the fanciest studio in the area. But your body can tell you’re doing something good for it, and I guarantee you’ll feel better when you do.