With September on the horizon, many of us are looking at Fall 2020 as a new era.
It may feel like a completely new life, a new neighborhood (whether our neighborhood has changed, or we’re in a new one completely), or new career or work situation.
Labor Day Weekend is coming up, and in the past, for me that has meant the promise of fall, and of new beginnings. For some of us, we see the new era. And for others, things feel too uncertain to find reason to hope.
Wherever you in this exact moment, I encourage you to listen.
Cultivating listening is a big place of learning for many of us. You can read more about it in this week’s blog post (you’re here!) But the best way to learn is by coming to class this week live.
In our classes this week will focus on practices that help us when we are in transition.
Online Yoga Class for the Week of August 23- 29, 2020
Sunday (tomorrow) we will start from a place of strength by rebalancing the chakras, our subtle energetic hubs that run along the spine. This is a yogic hack for finding equanimity in all arenas of life in our Meditate and Energize Practice.
Monday we will cultivate a deep integration of our space – both inner and outer and find wholeness in active rest – through our Yin, Calm and Yoga Nidra Practice.
Wednesday we will work on transitions with our bodies as we move through space and build momentum in Intermediate/ Advanced at ISHTA Yoga’s Online Studio.
Listening provides many big lessons in making sense of what doesn’t make sense.
In many ways I love to talk, and it turns out, many of us do.
In our sometimes loud and constantly moving worlds it can be hard to feel heard, or even to slow down what we’re doing, let along feel stillness.
Whether the constant movement appears to be the outer world spinning around us – or the constant movement is out mind racing, our appetite for technology, shopping, all that is new, the news cycles, work life – whatever it is – it can be hard for us to slow any of it down.
Stillness can be so important, because if we always moving and going and doing, then we are barely aware of what is really going on inside of us, and outside of us.
In the busy hustle and bustle of New York City pre-pandemic, with work life, social life, teaching, learning, family, friends, and so on I barely had time to have a calm day just walking around with no agenda.
There are many gifts that slowing down has brought me.
I have remembered that my ability to cultivate introspection and curiosity comes from improving the quality of my listening.
I also am reminded that I cannot present externally in the world in the ways I would like to if I am not aware of what is happening within.
The outer powers in life come directly from cultivating the inner powers from within.
The Path into Stillness
In Yoga, and different meditation practices, we can begin the process or harnessing our inner powers by intentionally cultivating a sense of focus.
In Sanskrit the first step to coming into this inner focus is called Pratyahara, or sense withdrawal.
How do we cultivate inner focus? (A Practice)
There are many ways that we can experience this entry point into inner focus.
- I find that setting a timer for between 3-5 minutes can give me an external container for this practice of cultivating inner listening.
- Once the timer is set, you can practice an acceptance that whatever happens in this short practice will serve you throughout your day.
- Find a comfortable sitting position with your spine upright or lying on your back with you knees bent, soles of the feet on the floor.
- Good first steps to coming inwards can be closing the eyes and bringing palms to touch – either in front of the heart, or the eyebrow center.
- From there invite your intention to come to us. Ask yourself – What is my intention for this practice?
- Listen for an answer.
- Options for your hands (1) Bring both hands over the heart and listen for what you hear (2) Lower your hands and bring thumb and second finger to touch.
- Notice your seat: the parts of your body touching the ground.
- Notice the sounds around you.
- Notice your breath: how does it feel and sound when it moves in and out of your body.
- Before you know it the timer sounds.
- Slowly take your hands to touch in front of your heart and thank yourself for your practice.
- Repeat this practice as many times as you are called to have it.
Remember that the practice is fruitful in ways that are known and in ways that are unknown.
With 20 years in I can tell you that I am amazed by what has opened for me with consistent practice. And I can also share that it is not always easy for me to find stillness.
That is one of the reasons why we practice. No matter where we are in our study of yoga and meditation.
Join me tomorrow for Meditate and Energize and we will explore this practice and more embodied listening together. Register here for class.