If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice for your soul is ALIVE.
—Eleonora Duse

Being connected to our soul is to remember our true nature and yet when life presents the outer confusion of fear, we forget. This past month has been a practice of staying clear to what is the truth. When chaos abounds in the terror of war and killing, we react in ways that begin to collude with panic and doubt. The beauty of life and the essence of the spirit are pushed into confusion and we tend to move away from our hearts. We must be FEARLESS warriors of LOVE. How can we as a community not nurture the integrity of our intrinsic nature of kindness and compassion? We must strengthen our commitment to find peace within our own hearts and to extend to our community as a refuge for love.

I opened Yoga Among Friends over 19 years ago and still have the passion and conviction that we are more than our outer identities. We are souls needing to be seen and acknowledged for the brilliance of our inner light. Every human being needs to be seen for the inner beauty that lies within. We begin to spin in the worry, doubt and fear of what we see and hear around us but if we pause and go inward, we are reminded that there is another voice. We must give attention to this quiet vibration in our inner being, to resonate with life with the call to love more.

I never want to assume that yoga is the only path. Yoga is so much more than a physical exercise and when we use the tools together, we begin to feel the sweet safety of beauty calling forth our inner strength. Embrace all of life. Find a safe haven to share in this courageous journey of the heart. I want everyone to be filled with the grace of a loving Thanksgiving as we remember that life is a blessing. To be content is the wonder of living and the acceptance that grief is only a doorway into joy.

We extend our hearts this Holiday Season from all of us at Yoga Among Friends to our community. May you celebrate each day as a miracle of life and rejoice in being ALIVE for LOVE!