04/06/2016
Spring, Change, Regeneration & Yoga
At no other time of year are the cycles of nature, and life, more apparent than during spring. Each year we defrost from winter into a wonderfully vibrant energy of change, regeneration, and possibility. Change however, even positive change, can oftentimes be very challenging, unsettling, and in need of a grounding, supportive influence. If we are fortunate, we may have loving friends and family to help us ease through life's transitions, but at some point as we mature it becomes clear that something more is needed to fully integrate our continuing evolution. This is where a practice like yoga can be extremely helpful. Yoga is fiercely honest and demanding, it never allows us to cut corners or hide from the truth, but it's also extremely loving and nurturing if we give ourselves to it freely. If you allow it, yoga will unravel all your preconceived notions about yourself, about life, and rebuild you in a much more deeply integrated way. If you are willing, yoga will reveal to you your unique path, your way of most ably going about the process of your life.
In recent years, yoga has become a mainstream form of fitness and healthy alternative lifestyle option. So many different types of people have benefitted from the gifts yoga has to offer, making the statement "yoga is for every body," apparent to the world at large. Although, with the focus on health and fitness so front and center, some of the deeper aspects of yoga seem to have fallen by the wayside. Granted these things are challenging to teach in large classrooms full of people looking to sweat and body-sculpt, but for those who wish to explore the depths of consciousness and emotion, yoga has proven through the generations to be an extremely viable option. The disruptive nature of change and transformation can be soothed by allowing your consciousness to fuse with the present moment during your yoga practice. Whether you are aware of it or not, this amazing system of yoga has been refined over thousands of years to do just that -- to slowly bring your awareness within, into the present moment, away from everyday distractions, and reconnect you with who you are beyond your ego. If you can find this, just for a brief moment from time to time, the effect can be profoundly grounding and "catalystic" for self-transformation. Not that it's easy, far from it, but anything worthwhile is worth your full focus, intention, and effort -- the very reason yoga is so commonly termed a practice, and quite a sublime practice at that.
