09/08/2021
Lately life is stretching me into places of deep discomfort. Pandemic turmoil, heartbreak, deep wounds resurfacing with a nasty vengeance. In trying to greet it all with my Higher Self, I encounter destructive habits and old parts of myself that dig their nails in deeper as I grow through them, face them, cast them away.
Shadow work, growth, pain and how we meet it…these are the unsung facets of our practice. It’s a side that that isn’t aesthetically beautiful. It doesn’t fill us with ease or peace like we come to expect from our yoga practice. It’s raw and tender. It howls and storms and trembles and rages. It feels like all is burning to the ground, including ourselves.
It looks like important relationships falling away, ugly cries in the car alone, fight-or-flight somatic responses, lashing out at loved ones, feeling isolated in the chaos, unsure footing, jobs and identities crumbling before us, feeling small and tempest-tossed and weary and worn down to the bare bone.
This is growth. This is the Practice. As my teacher .mattingley wisely once told me…it’s all Yoga.
The yoga postures that stretch and challenge our bodies and minds are metaphors. We practice asanas so that we may greet life’s challenges with the heart of a yogi: full of clarity, courage, power. Even joy.
Starting and ending with the breath. Presence. Gratitude.
Sending love from my heart to anyone seeing this who is going through it, growing through it. I honor you. I am here for you. I am with you.
Namaste🤍
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