I firmly believe in the transformative nature of a committed yoga & meditation practice. I also understand that the journey toward a committed practice can be an irregular one filled with starts, stops & steps both forward & back. To be honest, my own relationship with yoga was best described as on-again/off-again for many years. I attended my first yoga class in my mid-twenties; I enjoyed the class a great deal but it would be another decade before I would become a more committed practitioner & a few years more before I would dive deeper into the teachings that underpin the practice. That initial exploration of the teachings has evolved into a lifelong journey that has led to many shifts & changes ~ some expected & others that have been a marvelous surprise. Through each twist, turn & joy in life, my yoga practice has been a far more loyal companion to me than I have been to it. But when I remember to anchor myself in the teachings of yoga, I feel more able to move through the world as a peaceful, loving & grounded presence. And to this day, my journey continues & my practice continues to evolve. As I teach, I learn. As I take the role of student, I am guided to an ever-deeper understanding of the practices I feel called to share.
I believe that when we open a little space for these practices, they naturally take root in the way that supports us best. A “committed” practice looks very different for different people (& can vary for each person). Maybe for you, that’s a largely home practice supplemented with occasional in-studio classes or workshops. 👍 Maybe you prefer the watchful eye of an experienced teacher to guide your practice. 👌 Maybe you need to be challenged to dig deeper. 🤛 Maybe you benefit from being challenged to slow it down. 👏 Central to adopting & maintaining a truly nurturing relationship to the practice is allowing it to meet you where you are & allowing yourself to be who you are within it.
This is Ahimsa in action.
Wrapping our yoga & meditation practices in the honest compassion of Ahimsa (non-violence) allows the transformative & deeply therapeutic aspects of the practices to reveal themselves to us. When our approach to our personal yoga practice is another item on our to-do list, another “should” or a punishing practice disguised as self-care, we limit our exposure to the fullness of the experience & miss some of the sweetness. The compassion & loving-kindness inherent in a non-violent approach allow us the space to let the practice be & to allow ourselves to be in it.
Yoga & meditation ~ so simple; so challenging 🙂.
Ready to make a commitment to your practice? Join the Membership for Living Soulfully today! We offer at-your-convenience access to an ever-growing library of recorded classes, weekly live classes with a team of experienced and dedicated teachers, and connection to a community of souls who have also chosen to be on a spirit-guided path. Sliding scale pricing & month-to-month convenience are just icing on the cake 🎂.