Pool of Stillness

Greetings everyone,
I've had one word that's been stuck in my mind ever since my recent training in San Francisco and it has led me to my thought for the week. The word is bittersweet. In the training it was mentioned how life is both bitter and sweet. That its constant pendulum swinging action between suffering and pleasure supports us in our pursuit of finding equanimity. I have more fully experienced this relationship of challenge and ease, particularly this past year with both my husband and me having health scares.

It so often seems that we're cruising through life and then WHAM...something jumps out in front of us. How do we react? Do we ignore the obstacle and try to crash through it? Do we avoid it and go around or do we acknowledge its presence and accept it?

What yoga teaches us to do through its practices, is to have awareness around what's happening, and not BECOME what's happening. It teaches us to sit next to the feelings of fear and uncertainty, or in difficult situations without it changing the essence of who we really are. It teaches that who we are is deep, ever-present and wise. If we can sit quietly, we can connect to this place. We strive to find this place in our daily meditation practice as well as when we're standing in a strong Warrior pose and connect to that place of stillness through the vehicle of our breath.

As I've been sitting in my meditations this past week, as I try to bring a quietness to my mind, I visualize a place of balance between my heart and my head as well as in the center of my mind. I try to hold onto this place of stillness and balance without being in one place or another.

Once you step into that pool of stillness...you don't want to come out.

Challenge yourself this week to go for a swim in your own pool of calm, quiet and stillness.

Peace and Namaste',

Jayne