Namaste

Not quite fully submerged, not quite fully exposed. Liminal. The space in between two worlds is often much closer than we realize. The separation of consciousness, as the individual and the unity of consciousness, as the collective.  With observation, with intuition, with receptivity the sense of alienation fades and the essence of another shows itself as a reflection.  Oneness and two distinct wholes. Each a complete entity yet both intertwined. Where does one begin and the other end?

Holding the world in tenderness. Love allows you to become a starfish when you explore the tide pools at Lena Beach.

The water cascades down the mountainside. Rushing past. Flowing endlessly in release from the wells within snow capped peaks. Jutting up against the firm rock. Abutting obstacles, pushing beyond blockages. Carving it's way to the bottom, comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Meditation can sometimes feel like a ride along one of the steepest waterfalls. Deep listening inwards, introspection, gradually opens the emotions, thoughts and feelings from which you can't escape.  Judgement and core beliefs arise out of the corners of the mind, forcing you to burst against doubts, old patterns and critiques. But as ideas and notions move from stuck to loose, so do you. Free to bounce from one end to the other. Travelling to the inner self, with the flow. 

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"The places where you have the most resistance are actually the places that are going to be the areas of the greatest liberation.” ~ Rodney Yee

Poetry of movements.  

Spreading seeds. Lateral roots. Thriving plant community.  Resiliency. Perserverance.

Stretching your thoughts can stretch your soul. 

Sacred moments. Transformation.

Self acceptance. Complexity of our own being. 

The person who sees. Revelation. "Mind is a flexible mirror, adjust it, to see a better world.” — Amit Ray

Cultivation. Living an intentional life. Acting based on your values. Live full and wholeheartedly. 

Universal.  We feel more ourselves. We are more than ourselves. 

Delight. Live more fully. Celebration. Inspiration. 

"Yoga is the methodology with which to unveil the miracle that exists right in front of our faces and inside ourselves." – Rodney Yee

Control and surrender. Pushing and letting go. Balance. Flexibility not rigidity. 

Energy.

Experience the true essence of the endless present moment. 

Lifeforce. Prana. 

The here and now.

Consistency. Tapas. 

Bridge to Terabithia. Individuality vs. conformity. Imaginary realm. Untroubled. Friendship. Balance, an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady. Mental and emotional steadiness.

 Explore. Curiosity. Beyond the shadows. Your own path of discovery. Meeting the unexpected. Open-ended. Creative process.

Reap the benefits of practice. 

Tremendous expanse. Width.

Natural state. 

Blossom. Open up your heart. Vulnerability. 

With spirit.  Sensitivity. 

Sometimes it's hard to find the motivation to get outside. But it’s worth venturing out to take a breath of fresh air. Studies increasingly show that a daily stroll into nature has benefits for emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. 

Practicing mindful walking has helped me to foster a greater sense of gratitude, and supports my ability to live in the present moment.  It’s an activity that’s free, reduces stress, and boosts energy.

Next time you're outside become of aware of your breath and take the time to connect with your body. Pay attention to your movement. Notice how it feels to take each step. If your mind begins to wander just bring your awareness back to the sensations in your feet, legs, arms, and hands. Then gradually broaden your awareness to include your surroundings, using all of your senses. Take the time to identify the sounds and sights.

Often times we move throughout our day on auto-pilot completely unaware of our thoughts and how they can influence our behaviors and emotional state.

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Without recognition of the interconnectedness of our inner and outer worlds, we can easily over identify with the ego. Restless thinking patterns of dwelling on the past & worrying about the future are hard to stop from spiralling out of control. But, the monkey mind doesn’t have to take over. Tuning in to what’s happening on the inside can make all the difference.

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Self-awareness is the first step to feeling better. Mindful breathing and body movement are great tools to use to recognize how the mind and body react in different moments.

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Mother Earth is a metaphorical expression of the internal struggle - ever changing. Through this sensory awareness, presence is instinctual.

When it’s cold outside we’re much more aware of the breath. It becomes visible, floating gently away in puffs.

As in the cold, our awareness of the breath has shifted with the pandemic. We now breathe into the masks that cover our mouths and noses. We stand apart seeking protection from the spread of a virus that can rob us of our breath. We’re asked to complete self-screening questions: is there tightness in the chest today? And when anxiety spikes and stress increases with the uncertainties of Covid19 - we again return our awareness to the breath.

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Normally we don’t think about breathing, because we don’t have to tell the body to breathe - it just does. Breathing is controlled by the medulla oblongata of the brain, located near the spinal cord. Yet, despite being an involuntary function necessary for survival, we can still control the breath. Pranayama is the control and awareness of the lifeforce that flows inside the body. When we control our prana, we can,bringing our inner systems into alignment

Some days it can feel like you’ve been on a really long hike but still have yet to reach the top of the mountain. 

At times like these it’s crucial to be mindful of our internal self talk. Instead of letting a critical inner voice overwhelm the mind with should have’s and you’re not statements, with gentle awareness acknowledge these negative thoughts and build a self-compassionate internal dialogue. 

 Self compassion involves three actionable steps:

1. Self kindness - giving yourself the tenderness and care you need while tolerating shortcomings 

2. Common Humanity - remembering that we are not alone, that other people have experienced similar difficulties that are “a part of life”

3. Mindfulness - maintaining a perspective with which we acknowledge  our hurtful thoughts but don’t identify with them 

By practicing self-compassion on a daily basis we can change our perspective and live with ease by accepting what is.  

We are not separate isolated beings. We depend on the world around us. We are made of elements and require elements that link us to all things. 

“Looking into a flower, you can see that the flower is made of many elements that we can call non-flower elements. When you touch the flower, you touch the cloud. You cannot remove the cloud from the flower, because if you could remove the cloud from the flower,

it would collapse right away…..without the clouds there would be no rain and no water for the flower to grow. So cloud is part of flower” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

The earth is always there supporting us. This simple fact is easy to forget because the earth is always there beneath our feet, holding us up. 

Although, we may be living within different regions of the globe, our feet are connected by the earth we stand on. That’s something to celebrate! Miraculously the natural world allows our lives to flourish. 

Ground down with your feet today. 

Breathe in, imagining the breath drawing all the way down the spine and legs, dropping into the feet. Retain the breath, visualizing it strongly rooting you to the earth. Feel the earth support you from below. Breath out, imagining the breath traveling up the body… carrying with it up and out any negative thoughts, any uncomfortable emotions, leaning into a sense of release, of letting go. Bring awareness to your grounded feet as you repeat inhalation and exhalation. Relax - the earth is there for you, supporting you. 

When the world grows quiet as the earth and trees are tucked in under a blanket of snow, this stillness can be a reminder to pause.

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Replenish by attuning to the rhythm of nature.

Simply standing outside for a few moments - being aware of our thoughts, leaning into the feelings and noticing the sensations of the cold, can be a restorative physical experience.

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A brief pause does not mean we’re inactive.

Commune with nature at its pace. If we pause to look a bit closer and listen with more intention, we can find joy in the connection with our immediate surroundings.

This pause might inspire us to move mindfully - to take a few more steps after that initial step across the threshold.

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“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” ~ Aristotle

Yoga asana is often portrayed in ways that can seem intimidating.  Asana requires strength, balance, concentration, willpower and patience. 

It's important to remember that yoga isn’t about striving to place the body into the perfect expression of a posture. Asana practice is about play and self-exploration.

Find the joy!

It’s not about working towards an outcome & practicing with a purpose. Just be! Let go of effort & expectation. Allow breath and movement to flow.

Make kindness a priority ♥️

Self-care is integral to staying healthy in mind and body. Taking good care of ourselves involves being kind. Kindness can help us move from simply getting by to thriving during these challenging times.

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. This quality can be practiced internally (towards the self) and externally (towards others). Kindness is the capacity to understand what we ourselves/ another individual is experiencing and the willingness to acknowledge our own/ that person's needs. It involves abstaining from inflicting pain, harm and horror (ahisma). It is placing loving intention behind our thoughts, speech and actions. Through kindness we change our perceptions. When we are kind, we manifest appreciation, happiness, optimism and greater self-esteem - enhancing our wellbeing and that of others.

Asana practice is a great act of physical self-care.

Be kind to yourself on the mat.