Happy New Year Yogis and Yoginis
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I love celebrating the new year and I love the power of collective energy. In one big stroke of the clock and drop of a ball, we fervently shepherd out the old and usher in the new.
As a yogi, the practice of embracing transformation is near and dear to me. Flowing with change is a daily principal of Yoga and Ayurveda rather than an annual ritual. Harmonizing ourselves with the outer world on a moment-to-moment basis is intrinsic to our well being. Our state of health is dependent on the ability to shift with continually varying cycles within and around our bodies. In short, anything that is stuck and doesn’t fluctuate will lead to ill health.
Wellness, happiness, and balance are never ‘static’ states.
After 20 years of yoga and meditation practice, I have learned that whenever I find the ‘right’ way (technique, diet, practice, philosophy, opinion, etc.) no matter how perfect it is at the moment, eventually it will no longer serve me. If I am committed to paying attention, I notice that this actually happens a lot more often than once a year.
‘Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes…’
Change, of course, is in the nature of life. Life is movement-- one thing constantly morphing into another. We don’t often realize how many changes we are experiencing all the time. The weather varies, the tides shift, our moods swing with our hormones. Our energy fluctuates with the rise and fall of the sun and with our food and our thoughts. Relationships change while technology and institutions are always evolving. Yoga and Meditation is the very practice of harmonizing with these spontaneous and natural changes--over and over and over again.
We train in surfing the flow, not in creating a fixed condition or pose. Eric Franklin, renowned Swiss dancer and movement educator explains, “Dynamic alignment is neither a static nor a finite state; you are not working toward the day when you finally attain perfect alignment... You are constantly moving to a deeper level of experience, an even subtler adjustment, a new perception..."
However, surfing the tides of change is no easy feat. We need to support ourselves with a calm body and a clear mind in order to stay energetically and emotional stable as we ride the waves. So this month’s Yogalicious blog posts will be filled with inspiration to help you harmonize this season and all year long--flowing along with life as it is happening, so check back each week to get the latest post.
With love and gratitude,
Jillian
William 101: Dancing Through Change
I remember the day vividly. It was a sweet morning filled with child-like wonder and innocence.
My 10-year-old son William gave Sunday (our puppy) and I a VIP tour of the mansion-fort he built from pillows and blankets. The fort had bedrooms for his stuffed animals, a living room and even a sunroom.
Our sweet morning flowed on to daily tasks and eventually the arrival of a play date. With in hours of my endearing fort tour, I stood speechless in the kitchen as William and his friend animatedly explained Twerking to me.
Not only did they tell me all about Miley Cyrus’s salacious gyrations with a foam finger, but enthusiastically re-enacted it as well. Yes, quite a dance for a 10 year old. And just like that William is now officially graduated to land of PG-13.
Just because change is natural, doesn't make it any easier.
No matter how much conscious breathing I do, my blood pressure sky rockets every time William does an internet search, gets on YouTube, or asks Siri random questions. And, as much as I want my son to grow up and mature, I also want to preserve his innocence; cover his ears and eyes a little longer.
The catch 22 here- is the more I make something a big deal or have a strong opinion – the more fascinating and interesting it becomes to William. My rules and limitations actually help create the very thing I’m afraid of.
In essence: The more I stand on my soapbox and pontificate on the dangers of Twerking – the more he Twerks.
On the flip side, when I’m relaxed, calm and clear, when I flow with what is happening instead of resisting it so strongly, then William is less fascinated and more fluid. He doesn’t get as fixated and instead is able to move on more easily.
This of course is super is super important because we all know there is certainly something around the corner ready to take the place of Twerking…. And I need to be ready to dance with that.
