this is what happened when i stood in one place for 21 days

It’s a rare event to spot a caregiver standing still for any length of time. There are appointments to drive to, errands to run, meals to prep, calls to make, kids to look after, etc. But if you can manage to find just a few minutes to be still during your day, you just might discover an entire world around—and within—you.

My friend and colleague Carri Uranga challenged her community to stand in tadasana, or mountain pose, for five minutes a day during the month of September. I was preoccupied with some family commitments early in the month, but I decided to give it a try about a week in. I usually steer clear of participating in things like this (I think it’s that word “challenge” that really rubs me wrong), but the concept of taking a “simple” posture and holding it for just a few minutes intrigued me.

And it was a bit of a challenge. Mostly to give myself permission to stand still … without thinking about anything else. Even though I don’t remember Carri specifically saying that this would be a standing meditation (she simply asked us to stand in the posture for 5 minutes), it was a great opportunity to turn down my mental activity … especially since I hurt my back about a week into the challenge and I was more comfortable standing than sitting. But I had never really stood still without doing something else!

Carri said we could try the posture with eyes open or closed. When I had my eyes open, I had the chance to watch the subtle changes going on all around me. The breeze ruffling the leaves on the tree across the street. Our pet cows silently grazing the pasture. The pollinators flitting in and out of the end-of-the-season perennials. I loved having these stolen moments to connect with the natural world around me. I would have missed all this activity if I was buzzing around myself!

On the days that I had my eyes closed I noticed what was going on internally. I couldn’t help but feel myself gently shifting from side to side, my body working to keep itself upright. I could visualize my spine making minor adjustments in response. And as stable and strong as I felt, I could also feel space ballooning within me each time I inhaled … and a profound sense of freedom with every exhale.

The other thing I did with this “challenge” was allow myself the ability to customize it. Some days I stood on my yoga mat, gazing at the barn and paddock. When the sun warmed the front porch, I soaked it up with my eyes closed. Other days I stood at the foot of my bed immediately after getting dressed, because I knew it was the only time I’d have to stand still all day. And some days—gasp!—I even broke it up into two or three stints of a couple of minutes at a time. No one was going to have an issue with that, and I was still meeting my goal of 5 minutes a day.

I’m really glad I tried this different take on a challenge. I encourage you to make a promise to yourself to try being still—standing, or in any of your favorite yoga shapes—and see what might arise for you. No one said you had to sit for long stretches of time in lotus pose to get the benefits of a meditation practice. So give this a try and let me know what you think!