Trust Yourself First

The United States of America is comprised of 50 states, and over 3000 counties. Each one of these entities has an opinion and "guidelines" as to how to slowly re-emerge back into the public sphere amidst the Covid pandemic. After 10 weeks of being more or less self-quarantined, it's no wonder that it can be utterly confusing as to how we poke our heads out of our own isolated burrows. Who do we listen to? Who do we trust?

The theme this week is based on words spoken by my teacher, Judith Hanson Lasater, who often says "trust yourself first". What she's referring to is having confidence in the internal signals our body provides as being our main authority, rather than placing it on something outside of us (i.e., a yoga teacher, in this scenario). It's a lesson that unfolds over time as when we first step onto our yoga mat, we're looking for guidance from the teacher. Being a neophyte practitioner, we have little inclination as to what is "right or wrong", so we turn outward. Over time, however, we deepen the inner conversation between our sensations of the practice and our interpretation of them. We learn through consistency to turn inward for answers.

I get irked when people say, "listen to your body" and leave it at that. Often, my body says I'm irritated and I don't know what to do about it. I'm therefore grateful that I was taught and share three questions to ask ourselves whenever we're practicing. We ask:

1. Does this feel safe in my body?
2. Will I be okay tomorrow?
3. Do I have pain? If yes, rate it on a scale of 1-10 and don't dial up the pain during the practice.

These three questions get more specific as to how to "listen to the body". We begin to rely on and deepen our interoceptive ability, the "inner listening" skill of the body-mind. It empowers us to take responsibility of choice in the practice, it IS your body and you are its greatest authority.

Related to trusting ourselves is the energy of the Manipura, or third chakra, located at the solar plexus. This energy center is guided by the element of fire and can be deeply transforming. Just a few months ago, our community was raising money for the fire relief efforts in Australia. As we watched the images of a large swath of the country burning, it left a feeling of deep grief, loss, and change, not only for the habitat but for the plants and animals that called it home. When I now see images of the burnt landscape, sprouts of green are emerging and it's a different heartache. Things have definitely been transformed, it was unpleasant and looks different, but a rebirth is happening and over time a new landscape will emerge.

The same can be said for our current experience. We are being transformed through a global pandemic and it's really uncomfortable. Yet, if we feel the pain of it and acknowledge the transient nature of the experience, we too will emerge in our own type of rebirth.

Now is the time as we step back out in the greater community to recognize that we've been burned by a force more powerful than us and to trust ourselves in how far and wide we wish to roam. Now is the time to tap into our own power centers, held within the energy of the third chakra, and stand strongly in what feels right for us individually. Feel into the experience of the loosening restrictions and ask yourself, "Does this feel safe in my body" and trust the answer. You can't get it wrong.