There used to be a restaurant here in town called The Boston Sea Party. It was an all you can eat buffet. There was a soup and salad bar, a main course buffet and a dessert bar. If that wasn't enough, an entree was part of the deal. Usually by the time your entree came you were already stuffed, but as young professionals we were up to the challenge and did it all. As you left the restaurant, there was a basket of apples. You were encouraged to take one. We playfully put it near our mouths to imitate the stuffed pig. That is one place you couldn't go to very often without having to adjust up your pant size every time you did.
This morning in yoga I welcomed everyone, especially the new people. I encouraged them to treat class like an all you can eat buffet. I let them know they didn't have to "eat everything"! They could take a little bit of this and a little bit of that - whatever worked for them. When they needed to take a break they were welcome to do that. (Haven't you done that at an all you can eat buffet, rested for a little bit while getting ready to attack the buffet line again?!). If they approached class like that, they were more apt to go away satisfied instead of overwhelmed.
Remember in anything you approach in life, sample it and work with what you need. Don't try to do it all or take it all if it is going to leave you overwhelmed.
