With all the changes of late: the season, less restrictive covid protocols, and the sudden loss of my brother, I've felt incredibly ungrounded, drained, lacking band-width. Thank goodness for my practice, which continues to support me. Lately, I find myself moving more slowly and gently, lingering with the breath more, rolling around on my mat more…with maybe a standing pose or two – but always close to the ground, always inviting moments to pause, breathe, explore, and feel.  And I think these are some of the things I love most about this practice that I call yoga – its malleability and its ability to meet us as we are and teach us more about ourselves. 

When I first started a vinyasa practice I never would have dreamed that my “vinyasa” practice could look like it does right now – fewer chatturangas and updogs, fewer warrior I into warrior II transitions.   Vinyasa which is often thought of as a quicker-paced flow practice translates into “to place in a particular or special way”.  And that is what I’ve been thinking about – placing my body in a special way – in a careful way.  My practice doesn’t have to look like, and nor should it, the flow practice I began with 20 years ago.  My practice just needs to represent where I am today, and what I am curious about, and what feels important to me as a practitioner and teacher of movement.  Moving slower, exploring, and sensing into what I’m actually experiencing, building strength while maintaining mobility and finding time for rest are what’s calling to me and what I’ve been playing with and sharing.  And to me that’s the yoga  - tuning in and listening to what is happening within you in any moment and honoring it to the best that you can.

If you were to place your body in a special way – what would that look like? What would that feel like?  The next time you are on your mat – either in your own practice or when taking a class or practicing at home with a video, pay attention to what your body is craving – what special way it would like to be moved – and how it would like to move  - or not move -  and then see if you can offer that to yourself and what that might feel like.

Shoot me an email and let me know how it goes…