It’s natural for our minds to cling to the known, to the familiar, to those things that we can handle, whether they’re good for us or not. It feeds our #ego when we see around us a world that reflects what we know. To see a world that reflects what we don’t know – now that would be terrifying, and exactly what we need in order to grow.
Distancing ourselves from our ego, it becomes easier to see the patterns, or #samskaras, that we hold on to which work against our best interests. It also becomes easier to welcome the changes, the ebbs and flows which are a natural element of life.
“Use all your power to free the senses from attachment and aversion alike, and live in the full wisdom of the Self,” the Bhagavad Gita 2.68 says.
Yoganand Michael Carroll from the Kripalu Center says,“The spiritual practice propagated by the Bhagavad Gita is to shift identity from ego to #purusha (self), from the field of action to the observer of the field,” Yoganand Michael Carroll from the Kripalu Center.”
By dismantling the ego, we leave more room for our #Self. The Self understands and welcomes the #impermanence of things, and therefore has no expectation or attachment to specific outcomes and situations. The Self knows, on a level of deep consciousness, that all things change, and therefore that any phase, whether good or bad, will flow into a different phase.
The faith in impermanence empowers us to feel all our transient human emotions deeply, to truly experience the vast range of feelings humans are capable of, whether that be grief, fear, love, joy, sadness, boredom, jealousy, excitement, anticipation…but without letting the emotions become our masters. When we know that all things change, we can fearlessly dive into the emotions, through the emotions, and observe them, experience them, witness them, accept them, and watch them float away.
Things around us are changing all the time. Some we have to fight harder for. The saying goes that you never step into the same river twice, but I believe it’s truer to say that you never step into the same day twice. It may seem obvious, but reminding ourselves that #change is not only a natural but an essential force of growth can make every day, every week, every month more meaningful and mindful.
Looking back on #History it’s clear to see that #Change doesn’t happen smoothly or all at once. It’s a painful, uncomfortable process full of friction, anger, momentum and hope. It’s a gradual, inconsistent process full of stops and starts, first waves and second waves, while the status quo gets renegotiated. There’s rarely a clear destination or blueprint.
Looking back on History, it’s also clear to see that Change is inevitable. Social and political structures are cyclically shaken to their core and re-built; nothing is allowed to stagnate or last forever.
In many ways, as a society, we have become so much more aware of the importance of Change. I feel that resistance to change is gradually losing its grip, giving way to more #acceptance and #release.
We want to Change.
We want to make History so that the next decade is different from the one that came before. We want to be part of the momentum rather than the friction.
Being part of the momentum of Change and Transformation requires a lot from us. It requires a willingness to un-learn and learn. It requires #consistency and #discipline in educating ourselves and applying our knowledge. It requires a deep, reflective practice where we look back to see how to move forward – and how not to.
We must build new #perspectives into habits and new habits into social norms. We must be willing to have the rug pulled from under our feet so that we can weave together a new rug, a better rug. One which brings us closer to a world where equality really means #equality and #diversity is celebrated in the rich tapestry of life.
As I watched it the looting, rioting and violence unfold all over our country, . As I watched a women bravely blocking a man with an axe from breaking into a store, . As I witnessed the strength of thousands of peaceful protesters lose their message by bursts of violence, . As I watched a human being beg to breathe, .
I cry for the hurt, injustice, hate and fear that exists.
It’s difficult to say which came first. Do we hate those we fear? Do we fear those we hate? I don’t claim to have the answers to these questions. The one thing I do know is that fear and hatred are still very much present in our so-called ‘advanced, civilized’ societies.
At this time when people should be feeling more bonded than ever in the drive to survive and thrive, prejudice and, let’s call it what it is, , are still dividing us, still causing people to live in fear, to face discrimination, to be left out in the open, vulnerable and without the protection of a system that favors white skin.
This is what I wish I could be writing right now:
“It’s difficult to say which came first. Are we compassionate towards those we love? Do we love those for whom we feel compassion? I don’t claim to have the answers to these questions. The one thing I do know is that love and compassion are pillars of the communities we’ve built – communities where differences are seen and honored, where experiences and perspectives are listened to and valued. Communities where acceptance, understanding and empathy build emotional, social, environmental and economical resilience. Communities where all can thrive, feel safe, and feel valued. It’s difficult to say which came first. Are we compassionate towards those we love? Do we love those for whom we feel compassion? I don’t claim to have the answers to these questions. The one thing I do know is that love and compassion are pillars of the communities we’ve built – communities where differences are seen and honored, where experiences and perspectives are listened to and valued. Communities where acceptance, understanding and empathy build emotional, social, environmental and economical resilience. Communities where all can thrive, feel safe, and feel valued.”
Watching the world around me react to George Floyd’s painful and unjust death, I feel like most of us are sick to the core of hatred and fear.
We take our stand: we kneel for the George. We kneel for love and compassion to save our communities. We kneel to shake the world out of apathy. We kneel to demand an end to ingrained systemic racism. .
Change, flow and #transformation are all around us, and it’s vital to accept and honor them so that we can make the best of where they take us. But it’s equally essential that our roots be deep and powerful enough to keep our foundations strong, so that we can go with the #flow without losing or compromising ourselves, and without losing track of our #intentions and goals.
Your roots are your #connection to the Earth, to the Source. They ground you when life wants to run away with you. They are the stable #foundation from which you can learn to fly. They are your magnetic North.
They grow from your #values, the actions you take that align with them, the communities and Soul tribes that you develop based on them, and your ability to bring yourself back to them when you’re feeling overwhelmed, tugged in all sorts of directions, or afraid. When you base your actions, decisions and choices on your root values, you strengthen your connection with yourself and with the Earth, who gives you everything you need to thrive.
The best way to picture it is to visualize yourself as a strong tree, in its prime, full of vitality. Before you were able to grow tall, reaching for the stars, you grew down into the #Earth, connecting powerfully with your #Source. And as you grew taller and taller, and blossomed with beautiful flowers and fruits, your roots also grew deeper and deeper. Today, as you continue to reach for the stars, to blossom and bloom, your roots also must continue to evolve and be nurtured, so that they can empower you to grow stronger.
When you take time to regularly #reconnect with your root values, you are #grounding yourself so that you can grow. Strengthening the connection with yourself and with the Earth empowers you to reach new heights, so don’t be afraid to fly.
♾ ♾
These unprecedented times have left us with fear, uncertainty, stress along with isolation. We are all in the need to feel connected whether it be to our teacher, our spiritual guide, or the #Source.
As a yogi/yoga instructor, I value the #connection I can create on my mat with body, mind and breath because it brings depth and meaning to my life and my practice. The tools I learn on my mat lead me to incredible connections off my mat—with friends, family, students, even strangers and the environment around me.
Our collective love of #yoga and need for #peace has gathered us onto our mats, albeit virtually now. From just providing #facebooklive yoga classes this week to students from Chicago to Chile to Japan and Africa, I’ve seen how powerful this practice can bring a global community together and energetically connect in a really positive way, to share uplifting #prana.
I bow to you in deep #gratitude for sharing space with me. And I’m also grateful for my own teachers who are providing online content for myself and their students. We’re all in this together, fully connected.
If you’d like to practice with me subscribe to my # “ ” My latest classes are posted and more content, including meditations are coming soon.
. . .
Looking at all the fear around us, the panic buying, the hoarding, the prejudice and discrimination that often accompany a crisis, it’s easy to forget that we’re all in this #together. We are all simply trying to get through this, to stay healthy, to stay loving. This might mean keeping our distance from others so more vulnerable people can stay healthy; doing the groceries or running errands for your parents, neighbors, friends; or staying in bed drinking bone broth, taking appropriate medication and binging your favorite tv show if you’re not feeling well.
What it doesn’t mean is worrying about what tomorrow, next week or next month will bring. It doesn’t mean ruminating on all the ways the crisis has affected our routines.
The most important thing for us as individuals is re-finding our center of –#peace, #grounding ourselves in what is truly important, and taking what opportunities are given to us, like spending valuable time with our families. While it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of fear, panic and negativity, let’s instead anchor ourselves with #Love and #Positivity.
Yes, our normal routines may have been thrown on its head, the way you like to do things may seem impossible, so take this opportunity to dive deep within yourself and maybe even learn more about yourself.
As we’re literally forced to slow down and retreat, both physically and mentally, into ourselves, choose to see this as an opportunity to try life in a different way or work on those things you’re always too busy to do. Try out some new hobbies, call family/friends you haven’t spoken to in a while, meditate and journal more deeply. It’s okay to take a step back—not only is it okay, but it’s necessary!
✅ Stay focused on the present and making the most of this moment, now.
✅ Keep yourself productive, doing things that bring YOU joy or make YOU feel accomplished. Don’t worry about what others expect you to be working on or expect you to achieve. You’re looking after yourself and your loved ones at the moment, and that’s okay.
✅ Eat well, stay active in any way you can, and respect what your body tells you.
✅ Give yourself something to look forward to every day. This might be a book, an episode of a tv show, a new project, a new hobby, your journaling practice, a ritual, chatting to a friend.
, , . . . .
What does it mean to be #vulnerable?
It starts with #authenticity. Being authentically yourself means standing in your #truth, your #power, your values and your ideas, expressing them honestly. Vulnerability is simply the next step: being authentically yourself around others; expressing your feelings, truths and ideas openly in public.
But that’s scary! It’s where we run the risk of rejection, mockery, exclusion. Being vulnerable is one of the bravest things we can do, and so often, it ends up being the most rewarding.
There’s a key ingredient to healthy, brave authenticity and vulnerability, though: #compassion. Express yourself from the heart and lead with Love: Love for yourself, and Love for others.
When your truth is rooted in self-love, you’re safe from rejection and exclusion, and mockery can’t hurt you. When your truth is rooted in love and compassion for others, similarity and difference are both as beautiful as each other and your vulnerability will empower those around you, whether they have a similar truth to you or come from a completely different perspective.
Being vulnerable is really about being #honest, with yourself and with others. It’s about showing up and being seen as you are, in all your complex beauty. It’s about showing compassion and respect for the feelings, truths and ideas of those around you. Be fearlessly you so that others can be fearlessly them!
Next time, when you feel a certain way, express that emotion. If you have an opinion, share it. The world will be enriched and empowered by your contributions. And when someone else suggests an idea, expresses an emotion or shares an opinion, let them know that you have been enriched and empowered by their contributions.
Since late January when we went to Mammoth Mountain, I strained my bicep from using my arms to break my falls. One particular fall felt really bad and since that time, weeks later, I’m dealing with pain as it slowly heals. As my own biggest teacher, I’ve given myself space to heal but still deal with the frustrations of not feeling free in my body.
It might sound obvious if I say that flexibility is important in yoga. But I don’t mean #flexibility of the body—I mean flexibility of the #spirit.
Yoga is a powerful teacher of #balance between #freedom and #restraint: the liberation that comes with learning to connect with ourselves; the restraint that comes from existing in a complex physical world. Finding and keeping that balance, dancing between the total release and #self-awareness, requires the flexibility to be constantly conscious of ourselves and adaptable to our rhythms.
In Sanskrit, the word for ‘freedom’ is ‘kaivalya’; the fourth book of the #YogaSutras explores the freedoms we find through a ‘dedicated and consistent yoga practice.’
The freedoms that yoga brings are so powerful: open muscles, deep nourishing breaths, oneness and connection. But any restrictions that come from our physical bodies are also felt powerfully. Whether it’s an injury from which we’re recovering, a body that is larger or tighter than we would like, a physical condition that presents additional challenges—all of these factor deeply into our yoga practice.
In many ways, life is similar to yoga. We’re constantly spinning between working powerfully towards our intentions and dealing with limitations and constraints.
It’s easy to slip into frustration, impatience, pessimism when something is holding us back, but the best way to work with constraints is through loving #compassion and #space.
Give yourself the space to heal, to grow and to overcome challenges at your own pace. Give yourself the space to feel all of those feelings that come to the surface, but don’t let them tempt you into pushing yourself.
To give yourself this space, you might need to adapt your plan, modify your routine or shift your #perspective. You’ll need to stay flexible and receptive, open to #change and #transformation. By doing this, you’re not compromising your intentions or failing in your goals, not at all! You’re simply giving yourself the best tools to achieve your uniquely personal definition of #success.