A growing body of research shows the heart bows to the brain in intelligence. We do Yoga unite our body, mind and heart. We make the connection first in ourselves and then in the world around us. This is a persistent thread in our work with families, kids, teens. At the end of yoga we bow to our hearts in Namsaste, our way of saying goodbye and thank you.
When I think of operating from the the heart, I think of the work that people do in the world. Their contribution that comes from their passion. We received a wonderful series of books as gifts this holiday season from Gramma: Stephen Curry, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Greta Thunberg. These are individuals who do what they do for their hearts and for the hearts of others and the Earth. Thank you. We bow to them.
What can we do for the world? Live form our hearts. Honor the hearts of others. Respect and care for the Earth. Climate change is real and preventable. Here’s what you can do to help the planet and make a difference for our children. A few surprises here like fix your house and of course, make Valentine’s cards!
Nearly everyone I know was mentally, physically and emotionally ready to end 2020. We welcomed 2021 with hopes and excitement releasing that which no longer serves us. There was an energetic shift, and then we woke up to the same reality with Covid cases on the rise and stay at home orders in place. On day 6, things went sideways with the storming of the Capitol by an angry mob. Distraught and in disbelief, I wanted a 7-day money back guarantee on 2021.
That day was enough for many to stop following the path of an autocrat. That day took far too long to arrive for those who saw it coming the day Donald Trump was nominated, or as some now believe, hi-jacked the Republican party. It’s up to each individual to find their own tipping point - when they fall or choose another side. It’s often frustrating to watch and wait. Yet everyone is entitled to their own opinions, stories, choices and consequences. When is enough enough?
What’s this have to do with Yoga? There is a tipping point on the mat too. Every pose is designed to help find your edge, to feel it; it’s usually challenging. People often push, pull, grip or hold on with clenched teeth. That creates strain. To find flow, we must breathe, allow and be patient. Sometimes we find the edge, tip and fall. When that happens, we get back up. That’s what happened that Wednesday when the insurrection was cleared, we found our edge and democracy continued.
In order to grow, finding your personal edge is what matters whether you’re on the mat or moving through life. How do we stop and breathe through resistance? How can we build strength, flexibility and balance in our bodies, minds and hearts? That’s why we do Yoga. It’s an art and a science that helps each of us define ourselves and build skills to manage our edges and our tipping points.
It’s the last day of 2020. Finally. What. A. Year! A year of loss. A year of discovery. Each of us has experienced loss and suffering in one way or another. Deaths from Covid are both literal and figurative. The loss if a loved one, the loss of a job or business, the loss of freedom as we’ve known it. Disappointment has been a primary emotion.
According to The Psychology of Disappointment, disappointment is an emotion that exists when an outcome does not meet expectations. The greater the disparity, the greater the upset. Disappointment over-time is stressful. That was 2020, over and over again. It pressed us.
It was also a year of discovery. Discovering what matters and what doesn’t. Family matters. Many kids and families enjoyed time together like never before. Physical and mental health matters. Many kids and families navigated challenges with the help of new skills. Skills like adaptability that Yoga teaches us on the mat and transfers to life off the mat.
As we enter the hope of 2021 with the existing circumstances that end 2020, adaptability will be required. Keep doing Yoga. Keep showing up for yourself and the ones you love.
Oh, ho, no! This holiday season is quite different than ANY other! We wish you and your family well as Covid cases are at an all-time high. The suffering for many this year is staggering. We all seem to all be in a required process of holding on and letting go - and then some. We have found time to laugh.
We laughed with San Francisco Bay Area Moms and participated in the 2020 Holiday Extravaganza: Featuring 12 Virtual Events and Giveaways. We also had so much fun at IYK Online Mondays with the Kids who helped us transform our yoga class into winter and holiday poses from Candy Canes to Snowflakes, Santa’s Sleigh and Candle pose, we use our creativity and laughed all the way to our resting pose (Savasana).
We meditated peacefully and we wished for peace. Peace from this virus. Peace in our households. Peace in our communities. Peace in our nation. We wished on a Star - the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on the day of Winter Solstice. Happy. Merry. All the way.
Ahh, Thanksgiving. For our family, this year, it was an unexpected time to rest. Typically, there would be travel and all the details to take care of in anticipation of this holiday week. Instead, it was just us - at home. We cooked. We watched a movie. We rested. It made me wonder about how much rest we really need.
According to Smart Parent Advice, here’s how much sleep our kids really need. You may be surprised! Covid is taking a toll in so many ways, maybe one is opportunity is to get more much needed rest.
Yoga promotes better sleep for every age! Movement and meditation prepare the body and the mind for deeper and longer sleep. Try a class online. Subscribe to IYK YouTube. We will be posting our Good Night Yoga sequence soon. It works for every age - parents too! Sleep tight. ;)