It’s hard to process after all of these years that I have just taught my final class. I was expecting some sort of emotional to and froing which did happen and what I am left with is a sense of deep contentment, beauty, and gratitude.
At the end of some classes throughout the week, I asked what gifts people have received from being in their yoga practice. The comments touched my heart deeply with people expressing how yoga has taught them to find self-love and kindness, that it has encouraged a greater sense of calm and ease, that they’ve not only moved into their body with more awareness and less pain but their inner world and connection to the wholeness of yoga has grown. Many people came to yoga in the first place with one specific purpose in mind and found it was so much more than they ever thought it could be.
Two words offered really stayed with me-scaffolding and congruence. I have often said that yoga gave me a structure upon which to build a foundation, and the word scaffolding was even more precise, implying a progressive and steady improvement upon what is currently present. Congruence was described as being necessary in order to progress through the practice with alignment of the body and mind, and the breath was needed to move from one pose to the next. Someone, who was in a toxic situation, said the practice opened up space to find self-expression and a truer essence of being who they are, and moving into alignment with a higher intention was paramount for change to happen.
Even as I close this chapter, I sit in awe with the amount of inspiration I derive from my students. It simply seems to be infinite and I will truly miss the regularity of that exposure.
With this being the final week of my teaching, the final lesson to share is summed up in the closing I use at the end of every class.
May we know, speak, and live our truth.
I have repeated those words countless times since the early 2000’s as it seems to encapsulate the deepest meaning of what the gift of yoga has given to me. It can be summed up as being a compass for life, providing the roadmap which is full of tools that are adaptable and dynamic. It’s my North Star – when I have clear intentions, I know which direction to go. If I have uncertainty, I can sit quietly and simply be open to receiving the signs and signals that guide my decision-making. Before yoga, I had too much internal noise and was much more reactive than I am today.
One of the biggest impacts yoga had on my life was learning about, and trying to implement, the 8-Limbs of Yoga as described in the Sutras of Patanjali. This framework gave me a practical reference point for my daily choices and actions. And although these ancient teachings are at least a couple of thousand years old, so many of us on the path find them adaptable to this time in history.
As I came across and worked with other integrated practitioners, I began to realize the common element between different modalities was that of energy. Yoga has taught me about understanding the balance of these energies, cultivating a path towards equanimity. Not living in the extremes of life whether it be physical or emotional, has served me well. We are in constant flux between the masculine and feminine; between the energy of the sun and moon; between the yin and yang energies, as well as the interplay and interconnectedness of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Learning about chakras, koshas, nadis, and pranayama has all impacted this tapping into equanimity, as has compassion, loving-kindness, and sympathetic joy.
And even through a 15-month pandemic, the practice has been a touchstone for so many of us. Even via more Zoom calls than we care to count, we have maintained consistency and community.
On a more personal level, it has provided the container for my spiritual life and I no longer feel as though I’m searching for what resonates truth for me. It has been a vehicle for my own growth, releasing limiting beliefs, empowering creativity, and allowing me to find the power within my own voice. Speaking my truth evolved when I truly understood my purpose and realized I needed to share all that I knew. Holding onto what I’ve been taught was going against my purpose in life and literally getting the word out in any form was necessary. To my own amazement, I’ve written over 570 blogs, chanted my heart out with Jayne and The Om Boys, and at various kirtans, searched for weekly themes and common experiences, as well as continued to explore and study. Once I knew my mission of spreading the word, I was motivated to make it happen.
And I’ve had conversations with other yoga teachers who’ve had a similar experience of feeling as though we are a channel for higher consciousness and are needed during this chapter of being on the planet. Once I begin to get into the flow of teaching, something comes through me that is beyond my intellect. It truly is quite a magical experience.
Understanding the inter-relatedness of all things has deepened my duty to be a steward of the planet and to support those who have no voice. When I do my work, get on my mat or meditation cushion, I know it’s not only me who will be affected.
I like to think that the world is my yoga mat because no matter where I go in the world, the practice is always within me. All of these things enable me to know, speak, and live my truth. I recently heard Deepak Chopra say, “It is a joy to express my truth” and no more perfect words could be spoken. I am deeply content to have been connected to all of you during this time. I am humbled by all that you have taught me. I sit in gratitude to those who came before me, paving the way for me to find my own path and ultimately, sharing it with so many. And I wish you well as you go forward in your own way. May you shine your light brightly and flourish in a way that resonates with your heart and soul.
Namaste
