Sometimes I feel like I’m whirling around, not completely all in one piece. Let’s face it, so much is going on that I feel like we are all on the verge of tipping over, our roots ripping right out of the ground. I don’t know what to believe, what to say, where to safely go, who to see, how to help, if what I’m doing is enough, if what I’m feeling is appropriate... you get my point. You may even agree. It’s confusing in a way that I’ve never experienced. Sure, there are people that considered these possibilities, but I wasn’t one of them. I never concerned myself worrying about a world pandemic and I also didn’t think I’d see my fellow Americans harming each other in the ways we are seeing all over the country DURING this world-wide pandemic. Yes, you can call me blind-sighted or rear-ended or side-swiped. While Bill Gates was trying to alert the world about the possibility of a world pandemic, I was spending time studying and teaching the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Consequently, its what I know how to share right now and it’s what I’ve relied on during these difficult times. It’s as if the teachings are being tested for their efficacy and I’m being given an exam on whether or not I can use them to benefit all humans. I’m trying too, Bill.
Through my asana practice, for a period of time, I can root down through my feet (or whatever is touching the mat) and feel attached to the earth actually giving my whole system a chance to slow the whirling. It’s a physical sense of grounding, which translates to my brain that all is okay in this moment. Each exhale allows me to let go and claim ground, which provides the space from which to grow and be better prepared for those around me.
My meditation practice provides the backdrop for grounding my mind. I sit with my thoughts and emotions and notice when I’m getting pulled-in by their magnetic forces creating stories that aren’t particularly useful and that I spend parts of my day living with. Meditation separates me from my “thinking mind” or some say, “monkey mind” for a period of time, so that I can be in the present moment. As with any exercise, the more I practice, the more the muscle strengthens. I’ve learned to use these mindful moments as a way to cope with what’s happening around me because its really all I can be certain of, the present. As my teacher says, the present moment is our refuge. Read that last sentence again. And again, please.
My yoga practice helps keep me grounded, balanced and growing. Like a Giant Redwood Tree, when we root down deeply, we grow from the ground up. We create a strong foundation capable of facing the challenges, standing solid and reaching new heights. We can then use this strength to be of value to our forest.