I realized something this week. With the isolation of Covid, I’ve been trying to fill my time with purpose and learning. Some of that is great, but I had this ah-ha moment, that what I also need is a sense of abandonment, silliness and mindless activities to balance life’s challenges. The first order: a mint chip hot fudge sundae! That was the pinnacle for me as kid. We arrived at Baskin Robbins and gleefully took in the smells and choices. I told the woman scooping ice cream that her shirt was cute, and she GAVE me one for FREE :) I must be onto something *
But back to yoga. We can be purposeful and serious in yoga, but it also gives us a chance to have fun and let go. This week we looked at where and how we could feel grounded and expansive. Students tried to feel into both resources. I talk about resources a lot because that familiarity with what you can count on and rely on moment-to-moment can decrease stress and overwhelm, and increase calm and confidence. You are worthy & deserving… lets step on the mat!
When we get grounded, we start to feel a sense of security and stability and self-love. Then we can expand that out into all areas of our life, in all the ways we show up. Even in our intention setting, we validated ourselves in both a grounding and expansive way. I invited students to work with the mantra: “I am”. That saying is powerful in and of itself, but yogis could add a word to that statement if they wanted to say: I am …. bold, safe, worthy, here, or any word resonating with them.
I began class reading the poem “Desiderata”. You can find it in my inspiration section on this website. One of my favorite lines from that influential poem is “Just like the stars and the trees, you have a right to be here”. I am. I am here. We marched onward. Students found strength in their foundations, and then they opened their side bodies and their shoulders and we did about 3-4 standing poses twice. There was the opportunity to do the same pose on the second round, or to pick a different variation of the pose. Students were asked, “What’s new here?” and “What will help me get a little more of the resource I need?”
Students were then prompted to contemplate “Am I doing the old pose, or is there a new feeling? Can I ground or extend the new feeling a little more?” I had a little surprise at the halfway mark. Students got to play in prasarita padottanasana in a new way: we did big arm circles for a full minute to feel expansiveness deep in the low belly. Free time found yogis upside down in shoulder stand or handstand or maybe a sweet seated twist.
A great group … thanks for coming out and shining your smiles across the airways and volunteering your feedback and questions. I am sending you love, sending you light, Lynn
