06/22/2023
As a child I was introduced to many Hindu deities. They were placed around the house along with photos of my father’s guru and images of other spiritual beings. Of all of these objects of devotion I was drawn to Ganesha the most. I learned that invoking the power of Ganesha can bring inner peace, eliminate fear from your heart, and remove all obstacles from your path. I liked that. Still do.
My yoga practice began in earnest in 1994. Today, nearly 30 years later, my practice looks much different but I keep showing up for it, despite the obstacles. I find myself modifying almost every pose my 20 year old body used to morph into like water forming a wave. So easy to take that shape. Now, I find the shape that I can and mostly come to my mat to find my inner Genesha — revealing that which prevents me from being at peace in my own heart. There are often tears on my mat (or carpet or chair…wherever and whenever I go deep, which is often these days). The real gift of yoga is how it opens our hearts when we're shut down, traumatized, resistant, scared. It creates space in places that have tightened up from years of protection from what our nervous systems deemed unsafe. When we go deep enough in our practice, we reveal these tender places. Yoga allows us to release held tension so that we can remember who we are. We shed layers- and maybe even tears. It's a beautiful thing.
I'm thankful for the myriad of teachers and helpful deities that appeared in my life at just the right time. I love them all. I love yoga. It’s a privilege to practice and teach.
Namaste 🙏🏻
