Longing For Connection

Sometimes life takes us on a journey that has us plugged into and connected to people, places and things that may not be the best for us - anymore... and sometimes life leads us to people, places and circumstances that have the potential to transform, sustain and inspire us in ways that we've only ever dreamed of being possible - for others, but not for us - so we keep on moving, stuffing our longing for something more deep deep down into our bellies and hearts. We need to listen to the longing that is stirring in our bodies. It is telling us that something else is possible. It is asking us to move beyond the boxes that we have constructed and compartmentalized our lives in. There are circumstances that feed us and circumstances that deplete us and you can rest assured that your body will tell you when it's had enough of a certain person, place or thing and even when it's had enough of a particular behaviour of it's very own - and if you listen real close, it will tell you what it needs, wants and wishes for.
Sometimes it's not so easy to discern what is for us and what is not for us, especially if it is a core part of our life - like a relationship, a lifestyle, a career, a community, a philosophy, a habit or even an aspect of our identity. Lately, I have decided to pay attention to and explore bubbling feelings of intense longing for more that have been surfacing inside of me for the last couple of years and that have been growing even stronger during the past few months. What I've discovered didn't surprise me.

What I am deeply longing for is connection.

Connection to my own heart, body, mind and soul, to family and friends, to my partner, to community, to spirit, to my purpose and to a deeper, sustained experience of health in all levels of my being and within all relationships. These important connections are often lost admist the bustle and demands of our many roles, identities and busy lives. What I am deeply longing for is a more authentic relationship to that which truly sustains me and the courage to simply go for it.

When I sit with my longing I am reminded that it is up to me to nourish and foster the connections that I long for and it is clear that in doing so, my life will be richer and fuller and a much more fertile realm in which to plant and grow a deluxe assortment of the most amazing dreams - mine and yours.

When was the last time that you tuned into what you really long for? 

Recipe for June: Unplug, Reconnect. Repeat as many times as required until desired nourishment is experienced. Practice this often for long-lasting results.

Pose: Ardha Padmasana 'Seated Half-Lotus'

Image from: www.solspira.com

This pose offers a gentle approach to assist you with tuning into the rumblings, emotions and wisdom in the body. In this pose, while keeping your attention on your breath, take a long, slow, deep inhale into the belly, into your ribcage and slowing expand the inhale softly up into your heart. Then take a long, slow, deep exhale slowly moving back down from your heart, to your ribcage and finally your belly. Repeat for a few minutes. If your mind wanders, just keep coming back to your breath. Being seated in this pose for 2-3 minutes is sufficient time to begin to connect with the emotions in the belly. When you are done the breathing, why not take a few moments to journal about what you felt? Be curious. Notice the themes that come up and see if you might find a way to answer the call of what you are really longing for.

Meeting Resistance

During a yoga class that I recently attended, after a long and healing Savasana, (the longer the better I say!), the yoga teacher invited students to go out into the world and 'try to meet resistance in our lives like we did on our yoga mats during the class.' Since then, I've been testing this idea out in my day to day activities. 
I've been meeting resistance and my relationship to it, in all sorts of relationships and situations: with friends, colleagues, family, partner, myself and even with strangers. I've soared on a few occasions, tread water during others and also experienced some crashing and burning. It's been kind of like trying to go further in a more challenging yoga pose on the mat. Sometimes the effort is rewarded and the experience is exhilarating. Sometimes the effort is just totally awkward or painful and the pose just doesn't feel right. Usually resistance to working with how my body wants to move that day is what finds me crashed out or just not feeling it. Its when I work with that resistance using a few key tricks that I can get closer to or experience the exhilaration of embodying and enjoying the bliss of a challenging pose. Lately it feels like I'm alot better at meeting resistance on the mat than in the more challenging areas of my life. But on the mat is a great place to start cultivating the skills that will help me to navigate resistance in my life. 
The skills are simple: show up, stay grounded, breathe. I can't help but notice that when I apply these skills in my life - even when I don't want to - inevitably resistance starts to give in, movement is possible and the moments unfold with a little more ease. In life, this can be challenging and the exhilaration experienced on the mat can feel a little bit more elusive. Especially if I am doing the work - showing up, grounding and breathing - and nothing seems to be happening. If the person I'm trying to resolve an issue with doesn't respond. If the car doesn't start. If I can't advance in a pose. If my day isn't going as planned. If the weather keeps changing. As it turns out, I am learning that it seems that none of that matters. What seems to matter is how I'm relating to my own resistance and my ability to show up, be grounded and breathe, no matter what is happening. However that person wants to behave. However the car is acting today. However the pose looks today. However the day is unfolding. However the weather wants to change. It doesn't matter. What an exhilarating thought! 

If we can call upon these key skills, then resistance has these juicy lessons to teach us: 
Show Up. Ground. Breathe. And... Surrender.

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Pose: Savasana 
Also known as 'corpse' pose, Savasana, is prime time to integrate new ideas, skills and healing energy without doing any work at all. Similar times in life are the pauses we take before responding or reacting to a situation, a few conscious moments we might spend taking in a glorious sunset, a sweet nap or a good night's sleep. Being still, after working hard, is one of the best ways to strengthen our personal resilience in many areas of our life. Any big effort that is followed by stillness and reflection increases our ability to embody the lessons that life brings, so that in future moments, our ability to meet resistance grows.

Winter 2011 ~ Bringing Yoga To You!

Turtle Toes Yoga is offering a Winter Special !!! Buy one private yoga class and get one free. Limited time offer, expires March 2011. Private classes range from 1-2 hours, sliding scale from $20-$60 per hour. Treat yourself to luxurious sessions of stretching, breathing and the personal attention of a compassionate and motivating instructor. Experience having your own personal practice. I know you'll LOVE it :~)

Interested in bringing a yoga class to your friends and family? Have a den in your basement or community room in your building? Look no further. If the people can't come to the yoga class, we'll bring the yoga class to you. The more, the merrier! Classes start at $20 per person. For bookings of over 10 people, each person saves $5.

Stay tuned for an upcoming schedule of Turtle Toes Yoga Classes, offering a variety of styles, including restorative, vinyasa flow, hatha level 1 & 11, kids yoga and much more!

In the meantime, remember ... Taking care of you is taking care of me. Taking care of me is taking care of you :~)

Namaste !