Dear Friends, Yogis and Yoginis,

Reflecting on the change of season and the changes in my hip, I awoke this morning with a mixture of melancholy and appreciation. Fortunately after years of yoga and meditation, I’m accustomed to hosting different states of heart in one moment while also welcoming the changing weather patterns to inform me about the essentials of my inner life.

Melancholy arises when my output in the world overwhelms (in terms of time, activity and energy) my input toward myself. It’s a sweet reminder, actually, of the loving limitations of my body speaking to me. As I gain confidence in my hip, I’m still required to have great sensitivity toward the energy it takes to maintain my progress, stay committed to my full return to vibrant health, and re-connect with my service in the world. I welcome the information that melancholy provides and sit in her company with a cup of tea and an open mind.

Appreciation arises in response to the ongoing support, the regaining strength (I humbly bow to the intelligence of body memory!), and new horizons. There is also a sense of being held in the larger cycles of nature - Autumn consistently inspires appreciation as I harvest my garden and give thanks for what the earth has produced. Later, I will prepare a meal of spaghetti squash, brussel sprouts, fennel and chard; and I will eat it with immense appreciation!

The Practice: To welcome our arising and passing states with openness and curiosity requires that we’ve had enough grounding in what I call the “stable sense of self.” Welcoming changing weather patterns should not feel like a hurricane of the heart, a tornado of the mind, nor a mudslide of resistance. Yet, the more we cultivate this welcoming and curiosity and realize that we have not been blown away or run over, the stable sense of self emerges in courage and confidence.

Pranayama can help in smoothing the internal weather fluctuations. In the process of the breath, we create a gap between our experience and our resistance to the experience. This allows for a second gap – between our experience and our reactivity. At once, we’re slowing down our internal process, which stabilizes that sometimes elusive sense of self/ground; and opening our hearts and awareness to what’s present, which cultivates wider horizons of spaciousness and curiosity. From there, it’s ALL yoga, as they say!

Namaste,

Sarahjoy