Doing yoga online from my hotel room wasn’t the dreamy plan. The actual dream would be practicing on the beach with sand under my feet.
But reality often looks a little different.
The logistics of carrying my mat across soft sand with a walking frame, navigating unpredictable weather, and managing my fatigue means it is never as simple as “doing yoga on the beach.”
So today, I rolled out my mat on a hotel floor, and I remind myself that it still counts.
“How about we go paddle boarding?” my sister asks, full of energy and spontaneity. I want to say yes without hesitation. But what people don’t always see is the invisible planning behind a “yes” for me. It’s the energy budgeting, the logistics, and the inevitable recovery time. It’s not that I don’t want to join in; it’s that I simply can’t do it spontaneously.
While she heads off on a bush walk, I sit with that familiar tension of wanting to be part of it all while knowing my limits. Honestly, the mental load of the planning alone can be exhausting.
This is the part of disability that often goes unseen. It’s not just what you cannot do but the immense effort behind everything you can do.
So today, I chose what was possible for me in this moment. It was movement, breath, and a version of yoga that meets me exactly where I am. And maybe tomorrow, with enough planning and rest, I’ll find my way a little closer to the beach.