
It’s the contrast that breaks my heart.
Yesterday, baking a cheesecake with my two year olds: all mischievous giggles as they lick the spatula clean.
The wholesome innocence. The safety and routine. The clean security of our neat house. All while a line of zucchini plants sprouts hope of Spring on the windowsill.
And then, the front page of the newspaper: suffering and bombs. Fucking bombs.
I’ve always been apolitical. Talented at putting on my blinders and focusing my attention on school, work, my own wellness.
But I’m becoming more vulnerable. Maybe it’s being a mother. Maybe it’s that I’m turning 39 this month. Maybe it’s navigating the rocky reality of 10 years of marriage.
In moments like this, it’s tempting to avoid practice. Skip Savasana. Numb these conflicting feelings.
But the promise of yoga is not love and light all the time.
The practices of yoga offer us the opportunity to shift from extroverted consciousness into introverted consciousness: regardless of the sadness and grief we may find there.
How can I hold space for silence today? How can you?
Also, I love you.
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Tovah Delmont, Thanks for your thoughts and words today. It resonates with my heart and soul. I am 81,a yoga teacher and was a psychotherapist practicing with trauma, abuse and dissociation. I try not to watch the news as it’s so upset. I use all the resources I know and send out healing loving thoughts for the people of Ukraine and the world🙏🧘♂️💕
Every day I feel happy yet angry about the Russian invasion, safe then sad that Ukrainians lives are being destroyed, powerless yet energetic to help change the world. I want no more predators in women's lives, in children's lives, in the lives of citizens in entire countries. Yes, 'F'ing bombs, 'F'ing Putin and all those who align themselves with them. My tears fall for Ukrainians everywhere. So I made cupcakes yesterday to brighten up a women's day who had lost her mom and sister-in-law recently (not in Ukraine) - all I could do that day. Keep your light shining! It's brilliant.