Bloom Where You’re Planted

Many reasons underlie the desire to take up some variety of yoga practice. One reason may be to feel calm, another could be to spend time with others in an appealing environment, or to learn about something that has an aura of mystery or intrigue about it.

I’ve observed over thirty or more years that there usually is some combination of reasons, most of which is not readily apparent to the individual.

And the reasons are not static – they shift with life.

Being the immense field of mind-body art and science that it is, yoga tends to adapt itself to the needs of the individual, especially when the person is already within its folds.

This is the ideal scenario, in my mind. Embark on a voyage when the weather is agreeable and familiarize with the vehicle, the surroundings, the climate, the culture, the language. Then, when inevitable destabilization arrives, internal and external elements naturally come together to support our ability to not only weather the storm but also to emerge on the other side with increased wisdom and resilience. And maybe an intriguing story to tell 😉.

Then, when inevitable destabilization arrives, internal and external elements naturally come together to support our ability to not only weather the storm but also to emerge on the other side with increased wisdom and resilience.

Less than ideally, perhaps, people who seek out yoga therapy, spiritual accompaniment, and energy healing often come to the practice in a state of destabilization; they are feeling notably disturbed and uneasy. Such people may be worried about mitigating future pain and debility or hope to be rid of current pain as soon as possible. While understandable, we can expect that a desire to be free of such suffering will increase as we age.

So perhaps we start or continue now, wherever, and however we are. Dip a toe in or dive in head-first. Bloom where we are planted.

Bloom where we are planted.

I am a firm believer that anyone can practice yoga, anywhere and at any time.

Assuming we have some concept of what yoga is for us, the main question is, how? I am fully aware of how we get mired in finding the time, figuring out what and how to meet some perfect ideal. Maybe we can be perfectly imperfect? Perhaps like Nike says, “Just do it”?

Discerning appropriate practice comes at least in part from a strong internal sense of rightness that we nourish by feeling safe in our own skins and in the environment in which we are practicing. This interoception, a knowing what is going on inside, is a substantial benefit that can’t help but accrue from ongoing practice in a trauma-sensitive atmosphere.

Discerning appropriate practice comes at least in part from a strong internal sense of rightness that we nourish by feeling safe in our own skins and in the environment in which we are practicing.

One of my primary aims in continuing to share yoga, energy healing, and spiritual accompaniment is to foster conditions that allow people to identify and increasingly trust their own deepest sense of rightness.

This winter I continue to offer drop-in classes on-line on a donation basis, toward fulfilling this heartfelt desire. I hope you will consider joining me.
Click here for details.