Monday, February 24, 2014

My Lessons from Yoga


It’s been a year since I have worked in an office. The daily interactions, routines, interruptions, and conflicts have mostly been absent in my new life. My environment has grown around my commitment to yoga. At home I have long stretches of time to study, practice and create. The quiet and contemplative space that I have cultivated allows me to go deeper into my understanding of what I learn. When I work, I am surrounded by supportive like-minded colleagues whom I deeply appreciate. This is the vocation I dreamed for myself, and I am bursting with joy!

I have only very recently connected to the reason for this providential conversion. There are people who need yoga, some desperately. I see people struggle with confusion. I witness people react to their circumstances by withdrawing into a corner or erupting in emotion. I see this with a new clarity, as it has been mostly absent in my daily experience for quite a while. Mostly absent, yet always present within me somewhere. Yoga has given me the tools to manage these tangles. Now it is time for me to offer what I have learned.

1.       Breathe

Whenever I feel scrambled, which is often, I have learned to step back and breathe. I don’t need to answer right away; I don’t need to jump at expectations. When I focus on my breath, I remind myself that I am here. This brings whatever else is happening into perspective.

2.       Listen

Often I notice people talking over each other, there seems to be an urgency to be heard. Sometimes I think I know what needs to be said, and I am sure that I need to say it. When I listen, I receive new information that shifts what I thought I knew.

3.       Act

I was terrified walking into my first yoga class by myself. I stayed in the back of the room. I came back the next week. I kept coming back. I got to know the teacher. I followed everything I could find about yoga. I applied to Kripalu for training and was accepted. Now I am the teacher. When I get waves of fear or nervousness, I teach anyway.

4.       Love

There were times that I have felt so isolated and heartbroken; I didn’t believe my life mattered. In my despair, new angels came into my life. They offered me kindness, even though I didn’t understand why. More angels joined them, and before long my life became flooded with angels. Everywhere I look now, eyes shine at me.  When I smile at them, they smile back. And then I welcome them to class.

 

2 comments:

  1. Jennifer, I took 10 minutes out today to STOP, READ and appreciate all your effort and love for your new life with Yoga. I am so glad I did. The 10 minutes that I took to stop and read/listen was 10 minutes of peace and reflection that I usually do not get for myself. Keep up the amazing work you are doing. It's inspiring. I may not always have the time - but I am glad I took it today. You changed 10 minutes of my life. Love you, Kimarie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kimarie for your loving comment! I am so blessed that you are one of my angels. You totally light me up. So much love for you, Jen

      Delete