Learning and growing … This is a phrase which seems to be consistently showing up in each and every one of my journal entries of late. Thus, I had been feeling called to use this as the foundation for this month’s blog post. It was only after having the incredibly fortunate experience of studying this past weekend with my teacher from Martha’s Vineyard, Sherry Sidoti, that I felt inspired to fully divulge upon this.

Sherry spoke on patterns … “Go into the patterns, the habits, the stuck-ness,” she encouraged and went on to say “then commit to FEEL.” For, it is only through facing this – in stirring stuff up that we are then able to sit with, process, and ultimately move through these things. Thus, therein lies the practice of yoga.

Physical body yoga, the asana practice, is only the first layer of yoga. By investing time and energy in this, we begin to touch, perhaps only superficially at first, upon the practice. I say this not to discredit or devalue that which we do during our time invested on our mats in the asana practice. And, I applaud each and every one of you who has been steadfast in your gathering to practice at Balanced for Life Yoga Therapy, for this is what readies us for the deeper layers of yoga.

Of late, the true practice for me has not been with the physical practice. Instead, it has been presenting itself throughout day to day “life stuff” in moments spent off the mat. For instance … the wherewithal to not implode after hours of troubleshooting with the MindBody system, the patience to sort through how to best co-operatively ready monthly newsletters with Denise, or the perseverance to observe, without judgment, how I am triggered both in relationship with myself and others.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise to me that in discussing patterns, old habits of mine were triggered this past weekend. As I laid awake restless in the wee hours of the night , amidst an irrefutable desire to with a snapping of my fingers reverse the systemic effects of fatigue and dehydration, for a moment this journey did not feel so picturesque. For a moment, I wanted to fall into the familiar negative thought patterning of beating myself up. Instead, I began to draw in gratitude for my awareness of the fact that these feelings were the direct result of my not fully honoring practices which I’ve identified to be serving to my greater good. (Note to self: my body does NOT like to metabolize margaritas with loads of salt – though it tastes divine in the moment). Mark my words – I will be damned if I allow myself to falter down this very same path again.

For as the saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME.” So … I chose to write, to breathe, and to surrender to rest. A new dawn presented a new opportunity. My morning practices of detoxifying, cleansing, healthful food selection, and adequate hydration allowed me to source energy for my final day of study with Sherry. As my yoga momma so often encourages me, “Lather, rinse, repeat.” Thus, I continue to learn, and I will continue to grow.

This life is a challenging path. In choosing to face the challenge by fully doing the yoga –meshing the mind/body/spirit – or perhaps in allowing the yoga to do you, to move through you, one can take on the course of what Sherry refers to as devotional warrior. She went on to quote Sri Auorbindo, “By your stumbling the world is perfected.” On this journey, we stand to enrich not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. I challenge you to remain in close relationship with your breath throughout this process … learning and growing!