Find An Antidote
Lately, I have been met with a lot of big life transitions. And even though I know intellectually that these moments of great change bring transformation and a greater expansion of who I am, it still can be quite painful and stressful to move through. In the midst of it all, I have become more aware of how much my mind clings to the past and worries about the future. They say our thoughts create our reality and if we are always reliving something from the past or terrified of the future, no wonder we feel stuck. Life can really only take place in the now.
The Yoga Sutras describe the practice of yoga as an experience that takes place in the now. Yoga means union - mind, body, and breath coming together in this moment. Upon reflection, my time on the mat is when I am most present, regardless if I am teaching or practicing for myself. My yoga practice lately has been a space where I can come to fully feel what is coming up for me. If fear is present, which it has been a lot these days, then I can sit with, move, and breathe with the fear. I invite it in and get curious about where the fear lives in my body. If fear had a message for me, what would it reveal about myself? The fear then has a seat at the table (or on my mat 🙂) instead of me pushing it away.
When things become overwhelming, we tend to suppress thoughts and emotions. We move quickly into judging our experience. Or we might cling to something - a job or person - that once made us feel safe. It is scary to let go of something. But if we truly come to the present moment…actually do this right now - place your hands on your heart and breathe. At this moment, are you safe? You may feel a lot of emotion, but right here, right now, are you safe to feel the emotions? Once we step into the present moment with awareness and a compassionate heart, and genuinely meet ourselves, this is where the transformation lies. We begin to see that what is coming up is information. Our thoughts and emotions are not us. But all of it will continue to present itself to you until you have fully listened and received its lessons.
A practice that has been helpful for me is becoming aware of what I am experiencing, naming it (i.e. fear, guilt, anger) and then finding the antidote to that feeling. For example, for fear or worry, cultivate a practice of trust. If it is sadness, invite in peace or calm. And if that feels too far out of reach, it’s more about an invitation to cultivate more of the opposite of what you are feeling. It’s a willingness, not a fixing or trying to change what is. It’s an invitation to allow.
Find a quiet space to sit and take 3-5 min for the short practice below.
A Practice to Invite in
Find a comfortable seat, lie down, or any posture that feels restorative to you and your body.
Begin by becoming aware of how you are feeling today - mind and body. Tuning into the felt sensations and also what is present within your emotional body. Can you give it a name? And without judgment, can you invite it in? Can you become curious and ask why this is present for you right now, at this moment?
Once you feel like you know what is present for you and where it lives in the body - express gratitude and begin to invite in what feels like the opposite of that energy that you were just sitting with. Play with how this new energy feels in the body - where do you feel it most? And if you were willing to be with this energy more, how would it show up and express itself? Is there a certain word or phrase, a certain action that you could add into your daily life to cultivate more of this feeling?
*Please note: It can be normal to feel resistance towards the antidote. This is about willingness to invite in change, not about force.
Sit with this energy as long as you can (at least 1-3min). Really getting to know it and what it feels like in your body. That way you can call on this energy more easily when going about your day.
To close your practice, bring your hands to heart center, palms pressing into one another. Take a moment to honor and express gratitude for this experience of being with and inviting in.
This practice can be done anytime, anywhere!
I hope you feel more empowered and grounded in who you are - that you continue to show up and live YOUR most authentic expression.
Sending love and light.
Shar(e)on Lightly