The Best Gifts Aren’t Always Wrapped
What’s the greatest gift you’ve ever received? Jewellery? A holiday? Or perhaps something more unexpected? We often think of gifts as things wrapped in pretty paper, but sometimes the most valuable gifts are moments, experiences, and lessons that stay with us long after the excitement of unwrapping fades. My greatest present has been the gift of progress – yoga and patience.
The gift of progress – yoga and patience
In the traditional Ashtanga practice, your teacher ‘gifts’ you the next pose in the sequence when you have become proficient at the ones which have come before. This is the gift of progress – yoga and patience. I always found this idea intriguing and (if I’m honest) a little bit elitist – especially as someone who is flexibly challenged. Watching others receive these ‘gifts’ while I struggled made me feel stuck and unworthy of progressing.
Reframing my experiences
Cognitive Reframing is a technique taught in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to help identify and change negative or unhelpful thought patterns. I always believed that I wasn’t good enough to move forwards in my practice, so I stopped trying. But now, eight years later, I am working with a different teacher, and although my flexibility challenges remain, something has shifted for me. I’m different. I’m not chasing the next pose – I’m simply showing up and taking the class without expectations or comparisons.
And something magical has happened. Without striving for it, I have been ‘gifted’ new postures to work on. By sharing my past experiences with my teacher, she now has a better understanding of my practice. This has allowed her to encourage and motivate me with compassion. In return I’ve shown up, put in the work, and been invited to explore something new.
What is a gift anyway?
Technically I could go away and work on any of these poses on my own. I could book a private session with an amazing teacher and progress that way. But it’s much nicer to have something given to you? The same applies to holidays, jewellery or that perfect handbag – you could treat yourself, but when someone else gifts it to you, it feels just a little bit more special.
This idea of receiving got me thinking about other times I’ve been gifted something truly special. One of the most unexpected and cherished gifts I’ve ever received wasn’t an object, or even a deliberate gift – it was simply a piece of music.
A gift of music
Many years ago, my sister shared this beautiful piece with me. It plays during the final moments of one of her favourite movies, where the characters gather for a bittersweet goodbye. Whenever she talks about this scene, her whole face lights up, and now, every time I head the music, I think of her.
It wasn’t until I head the music on Classic FM recently that I realised it was a gift. I had been trying to pull myself out of a downward spiral when the familiar notes filled the room. It was a slightly different version, but equally beautiful. I paused, listened and let the music wash over me. For once, I didn’t scroll, I didn’t read – I simply listened. Instantly, I realised the music was a gift I carried with me.
A gift of patience
The beauty of having a piece of music as a gift is that it has the potential to surprise you at any moment. When it comes on the radio, it drops me firmly into the present, filling me with warmth and happiness. The same is true of the yoga poses I’ve been gifted. They are a beautiful step along a journey that has no end. Each one offering a change of scenery and an opportunity to grow. It’s these kinds of gifts that stay with us, unfolding over time and reminding us of what truly matters.
The unconventional gifts – music, yoga and even life’s challenges – have the power to shape us. They remain with us long after the moment has passed. They offer us a chance to pause, reflect and to grow in ways we never expected. So, what’s the greatest gift you’ve ever received? Perhaps it’s closer than you think – why not book a yoga class with me and experience the gift of peace and relaxation for just one hour.
