Fragility

"Well, why wouldnt someone want to feel fragile? I think fagility is one of the most underrated things as a human being. I believe that we're doing Yoga so that we can be strong enough to be fragile. I mean, we are fragile, and we're living in a society were we could easily be destroyed -psychologically, emotionally, and physically- so why shouldn't we feel fragile? life is on a silk thread hanging like a cocoon from a tree, and it's a fragile thing. I don't think Yoga is to keep you from feeling fragile. I think it's to enable you to be consciously fragile but still feel like, "I'm fine with this fragility.""-Rodney Yee

I've certainly been feeling fragile since my sister's passing. And despite my beliefs about death, I can't sidestep the natural process of grieving. It's common, even habitual, for us to distract ourselves from uncomfortable emotions. It might be reading a fantasy novel, getting lost on the internet or talking about anything other than what's aching to be felt. We have no shortage of ways to avert our attention in this society. 

Take some time today to focus your attention on yourself as a whole- the parts that are fragile and vulnerable as well as the parts that are empowered and strong. Acknowledge everything that's present right now. What's happening in your body? Find a Yoga posture that helps you to accentuate the sensations. For example, I've been noticing heaviness in my chest; a heavy heart. Forward folds have been allowing me to curl into myself, looking inwards at what's happening there. When I uncurl and explore a backbend I've felt more vulnerable with the pain, while allowing space to open and let go of that heaviness. 

Honor yourself and welcome the possibilities.

May your practice today serve your ability to be ok with being fragile. 
May you be truly happy.
Namaste
Jessica

Savoring what's Shared

We played this song at my little sister's funeral. I know I tend to take it for granted that I'll see people again. 

Practice being fully present to yourself, so that you can be present to all your relationships, appreciating the unique beauty in every moment. Change is constant; sometimes change is sudden... What's Happening Now?

On Death, with Love

How to put words to such bursts of change? The element of fire has the characteristic of transformation.   Many have been transformed since the flames claimed the lives of my sister, Lisa Mosher, and family friend, Alyssa Bernardin.  

I'll continue to share about how Yoga and Community has been serving me through all of this. For now, here's a piece from Kalil Gibran's The Prophet. I read this after I found out, while I was in the beautiful resort town of Fernie, B.C. Notice what comes up for you as you read it. Watch your breath. Notice your body. What happens around your heart?

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.
In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the sheered not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Be Patient as you watch the Eagle Grow

Sometimes I think that I'm done with this cultivating patience thing, that it's time to move on to bigger and better ventures! Ahem, yes well, perhaps that's why my muggy morning dream illustrated my need to integrate this state to balance out it's overly embraced opposite of haste.


My dream self was holding a leash with a young eagle harnessed in at the end. It seemed like I was trying really hard to make this fresh life fly. The environment we were in was busy, chaotic even. There was a striving, a craving to be somewhere else. The bird couldn't fly. No matter how much effort from me or the creature, no adventures were going to happen just yet. There needed to be more space for growing into being able to soar freely. I rushing when I could be witnessing the natural unfolding of this life. 


Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism all value the virtue of patience as a way to enlightenment or as a way to grow closer to God. In the First Nations seven sacred teachings the eagle represents Love. I encourage you to witness your relationship with the pace at which you practice Eagle Pose. Notice the space in your body, the space between breaths, between thoughts. 


What's happening now? 


Garudasana a.k.a Eagle Pose


Do some Sun Salutations or other warm ups before exploring this asana.


Stand with your feet together and your hands together in front of your heart.


Invite a deep breath in. With your exhale, bend your knees and sink your hips down. 


Ground down through your left foot. Inhale to lift your right foot and cross your leg over your left leg. Hook your right foot around your left calf if you can, or point your toes back. Keep your navel drawn in; this will support your balance. 


Inhale your arms up and over head. Exhale your right arm under your left with elbows bent. Bring your palms together and take deep breaths here. 


When you're ready, unwind your arms and legs and stand back in Mountain Pose. Explore this asana on the other side. 


"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it"-Rumi

Celebrating Solstice

  Here is the sunrise I saw this morning from Garbage Hill.

It was so beautiful in person, in the quieter part of the day; birds sharing the soundscape with the beeping and clanking of morning work. Even though technically yesterday was Summer Solstice, I was inspired to celebrate this still very long day with some morning yoga that included a few Sun(rise) Salutations. I chanted the Gayatri Mantra as I cycled to the hill. I adore Deva Premal's version. I encourage  you to listen to it when you can. Notice what it's like to feel the mantra. This mind-quieting, connection inspiring tool is a particularly dear friend of mine. Here it is written if you'd like to chant along:


     Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
     tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ
     bhárgo devásya dhīmahi     dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt 


Take a few deep breaths. Ask yourself how you want to honor all this light and life force that's available to you now. As the darkness of night now grows again, ask yourself how you can best honor also your shadows. You never know what gems might be hidden there until you open up to discovery. 


To the wholeness of being human,
Namaste

"Everything is created from moment to moment, always new. Like fireworks, this universe is a celebration and you are the spectator contemplating the eternal Fourth of July of your absolute splendor."- Francis Lucille

Driven by Discontent? Cultivate Compassionate Contentment

Have you ever gone through times that are so busy, but nothing much seems to get done? That feeling for me can feed into a cycle of stress and anxiety. When there is a sense of not doing or accomplishing enough, the inner critic's volume can get turned up. I try to do to appease the growing discontent about my abilities, a reflection of my conditional self love. 


The Yoga Sutras include Santosha, contentment, as a part of the journey towards harmony. When I slow down and let myself just be with myself as I am, even with all there is or isn't to do, I can move from a more calm place. I can practice opening up to unconditional love. What courage that takes! To find love, acceptance and contentment when that critic is telling me I'm failing or not good enough takes tremendous softening, strength, and practice. 


Regular meditation trains us and rewires our brain. We watch what unfolds as it unfolds; we nurture our ability to be at peace with ourselves just as we are. Throughout that process our discontents can teach us about our relationship to ourselves and the life we're living. Try the practice below and notice how that affects the intention you move with for the rest of the day.


Start with a Centering Meditation. 
Notice your breath as it is
Your body in this moment
Your thoughts as they arise 
Your emotions 
And what's happening now in your life.


Stand with your feet hip width apart. Bring your palms together in front of your heart center. Take a deep breath here. On an inhale, reach your arms up and over head. As you exhale, fold forward, hinging from your hips. Bring your hands to your legs or down to the floor. 


Notice what's happening now. What's your relationship to yourself in this position? Stay here for at least 5 deep breaths or as long as it feels right to. 


When you're ready, place your hands on your hips and inhale back up to standing. Pause here and notice what's happening in this moment. 


Invite your hands to touch in Anjali mudra again in front of your heart. Draw your navel in towards your spine. Inhale reach your arms up. Exhale and slide your shoulders down your back and let your chest open upwards as you lift your gaze. Take at least 5 breaths here and notice what happens. 


Inhale to lift back to upright, exhale your hands back to your heart. 


What do you notice now? 


"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship."- Buddha


"A youthful mind is seldom totally free from ambition; to curb that, is the first step to contentment, since to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment."- Frances Burney


Namaste
Jessica

Spring Cleansing for that Summer Shine

We've only got one more week until Summer Solstice, and that means only one more week of spring cleaning to go. If you feel bogged down in anyway or feel like life is just too full, this practice will support you in clearing more space in your mind, body and spirit. All Yoga practice is a purification process so we can connect with that Truth and Bliss within, so do your best to give yourself that time as regularly as you can. 


This meditation will support your connection with where you're at now, the twists will wring out your liver for that inner cleanse, and the backbend will be your energetic master cleanser, helping you make the space for an open heart and a vibrant summer. Enjoy! 


Check in with yourself. Breath, body, thoughts, emotions, and life. Take your time with each of these parts of yourself.
What do you notice? 
Set an intention for your practice. What would serve you best right now to let go of? What are you creating space for in your life?


Sit on a block or cushion in a cross legged position. Ground down into your foundation, down through your sitting bones. Place your left hand on your right knee, place your right hand on the floor behind you. Inhale to lengthen your spine. Exhale to spiral into your twist towards the right. Breath deeply here, focusing on the exhales as you let go of tension. When you're done on this side, take a breath in the middle and then explore the twist to the left. 


Stand with your feet hip width apart. Bring your palms together in front of your heart center. Take a deep breath here. On an inhale, reach your arms up and over head. As you exhale, fold forward, hinging from your hips. Bring your hands to the floor, bending your knees if you need to. Step your right foot back behind you so you're in a lunge. Square your hips. Bring your left hand to the floor on the inner edge of your left foot. Ground your left arm and leg towards each other. Inhale to lift your right arm up towards the ceiling. Breath deeply here. When you're ready, bring your right hand to the floor and inhale your left arm up. Open your chest to the side wall and slide your shoulders down away from your ears. Explore this position with your breath. Switch sides when you're ready. 


Invite your hands to touch in Anjali mudra again in front of your heart. Draw your navel in towards your spine. Inhale reach your arms up. Exhale and slide your shoulders down your back and let your chest open upwards as you lift your gaze. Keep rooting down through your feet as you breath deeply here. Inhale to lift back to upright, exhale your hands back to your heart. Do 2 more, see how each one is unique. 


Lay down, bend your knees and roll onto your right side. Reach your left arm back behind you and turn your gaze to follow. Let both shoulders surrender towards the floor. What is it like to breath here? 


Take some time for your final resting pose, Savasana. Let yourself soften and simmer in the benefits of your practice. 


May all beings everywhere be truly happy and peaceful.
May our thoughts, words, and actions support the harmony of life. 


Check out this deliciously dance-able version of the Lokaha Mantra, a mantra for world happiness and prosperity. 
Namaste
Jessica