What I love about the practice is that it presents lessons at the moments we need them most. What I came to then was that yoga doesn’t divert us from finding peace by pushing things away. Instead, it urges us to stay for one breath and then the next to work through difficulties rather than back away. It allows us the time to stay with our sticky thoughts until we can peel a corner back and find a way to unravel the tacky trail. Practice allows us to flip our worlds upside down (literally) in order to offer us a way to shift our thinking. We not only get to view the topography of our landscape but we also are afforded the opportunity to assess what lies beneath -those things we might be missing (like all of those dust bunnies lying dormant and untouched under the bed!). Our studies urge us to recognize that relationships are in a constant state of change within ourselves, our bodies, our friends, families, neighbors and our worlds. While there are many more insights to offer, the most profoundly simple one struck closest to home for the remainder of the week- our practice gestures our head to bow below and to our heart.This thought reminded me of a quote I carried for the rest of the week:
Out beyond ideas of right and wrong there is a field. I will meet you there. -Rumi
Regardless of political leanings and relationships with our ever-changing bodies, ultimately we need to lay down our arms rather than catching and reactively throwing things over the wall. Right and wrong doing, what we could do before measured to what we can do now, ego and stubborness, all need our attention and guidance so that we can visit the tenderlands that lie within ourselves.
We all need our time in the field to see one another and ourselves stripped of labels, shells and armor to embrace the likeness- our humanity, complete with tweaky antennas, flesh, and bones.
In addition to our daily offerings, the end of the week brings lovely ways to engage in the discourse of our hearts, minds and bodies. On Thursday, TYC welcomes Erica Mather into our discussion to probe into her book, You Body, Your Best Friend. On Saturday, Dr. Sat Bir S. Khalsa, PhD. will be online to offer understanding and insight into the science behind the benefits and healing of our practice at his workshop, Understanding the Biomedical Science & Research Behind Yoga & Yoga Therapy.
We welcome you to practice bowing your head to your heart.
We’ll be right there beside you practicing the same!
With Love-
Sharon & Your TYC Tribe