How to Calmly Reside in the Eye of the Storm

Photo by Ralph W. lambrecht

Dear Readers…

I used to address you as “Dear Yoga Students” but then it occurred to me that probably, many of you are not actually practising much yoga…
Perhaps I’m wrong? I love being wrong as I get to learn something new…

• Are you moving your body mindfully in a way that relaxes and grounds you?

• Are you bringing your focus to your breathing to allow your nervous system to unhook from the chaos of the outer world and find true inner peace?

• Are you tending to the garden of your mind, choosing which nourishing thoughts to cultivate and feed, and which thoughts to allow to wither away… eventually becoming compost to fertilise fresh new thinking?

  
  And…. please note you can do all these things without actually going to yoga. For some people, life is their yoga, or gardening, pottery, art, caring or parenting… However, yoga happens to be an easy way to develop these supportive habits in a consistent way.
  Please fill in the (anonymous) poll below to let me know where you’re at.

For those of you who are reading this blog, but not doing yoga enough, much or at all… this is for you. I’m warmly inviting you to your own practice, your way, in your own time, in your own place.

I would very much like you to experience the joy of simply moving, breathing and being. Without any agenda of having to fix some part of yourself. Without striving to achieve some special yogic goal (whether that’s as mundane as touching your toes or as lofty as attaining enlightenment).

If you’re a yoga bunny, if you love to do vinyasa, sweat, breathe heavily and strive for that peak yoga pose, then this practice is not for you.

• This practice is for you if you’d like to cultivate the capacity to stay calm when life is one big shitstorm.

• This practice is for you if your heart sinks a little at the thought of adding one more thing to your “to do, should do, would do, could do one day when I have the time list”

• This practice is for you if you are feeling worn out, burnt out, strung out, spaced out or flat out.

It’s time to go inwards, for your mind and body to find inner peace and inner strength.
It’s time to actually practice yoga.

Before you begin… a few friendly guidelines…

1. Don’t do anything that does not feel delicious… instead take time out to rest and focus on the breath moving into your belly and rejoin the practice when you feel like it. This is an observance known as santosa - contentment.

2. If something feels tweaky, twingy or painful stop doing it. Move less, move more slowly until you find a way to your own personal comfort zone. this is an observance known as ahimsa - non-harming

3. Drink water before and after, it is surprising how much fluid gets pulled into your joints and fascia. A small snack pre-yoga is fine, a big meal needs time to digest…

4. Keep your mind turned inwards to your body and breath. Mindfully hold this focus throughout the practice this is a practice known as pratyahara

5. Observe your thoughts, without judgement. Be kind to yourself
   

Yes, it’s an hour-long…
Your body and mind deserve a whole hour of this potent medicine.
A quick fix 20-minute practice doesn't cut it. We need a longer, deeper practice to truly deal with the stresses of life these days. Ideally twice a week.
Enjoy your practice… please do let me know how it goes in the Substack comments. I’ll be delighted and honoured to answer any questions you may have.

And here is a breath practice you can practice it straight after the class for a longer relaxation. Or play it to help you unwind and relax after a long day.

Just to let regular students know, there is no Monday meditation or Monday in-person this week… but the Tuesday Zoom is running. It’d be lovely to see you there even if you don’t normally come to class, you’re always welcome!

With love and good wishes,

Julia xxx