Insights & Inspiration
We are wrapping our arms around our dear friend and teacher, Jana Sutherland, and her family as they deal with the devastating loss of their beautiful home. They were awakened Sunday night, Nov 15 at 1am and were thankfully able to escape this house fire.
Please donate to help Jana and her family during this difficult time to obtain everything from basic necessities to providing shelter while their home is repaired. To donate: www.gofundme.com/f/sutherland-family-fire-relief-fund
Welcome to the season of the dark, the sacred time of year where we hold vigil for the light as we enter into what I call the “dark night of the soul”. How can I see the brilliant galaxy of the night sky, my own North Star, when the sun is too bright?
I embrace this dark night as my sanctuary for going into my own depth of darkness and offer a graceful acceptance to fall into the unknown. How sweet the stillness of night, the intimacy of the quiet, as I willing reflect on what is being presented.
Life during Covid has been nothing short of challenging. The obstacles being presented have given me the opportunity to go deeper inward and practice patience and acceptance. I let go the familiar and embrace the mystery of the dark season. We are being asked to go slow down and reflect on the wonder of life, not for what we do but for who we are. Our yoga practice is more important than ever to cultivate a healthy body and mind.
I love the rituals of my morning practice which allows me to live with an inner knowing of some deeper trust. YAF offers morning classes to begin the day with a community of support. The blessing of this time has been our zoom connection. Together, we maintain a community that can stabilize our fluctuating mental and emotional minds. I know it takes effort on these dark mornings to get out of bed, but this is the nourishment that our soul demands to get the light on.
We are being asked to be the light in the world, to shine out the kindness and compassion that is so needed. Our community together creates a collective healing; we need each other. We might not be able to physically hug, but energetically we can feel the connection of belonging. The effort made will inspire your day. Inspiration is to breathe life into the soul, to feel and to cultivate the magic of living from the heart.
Together, as we move towards the solstice on December 21, let us renew our commitment to bring in the beauty of the day by lighting our own pilot light! Let us be the calm and peace in the storm for others.
The ancient texts of yoga offer a deeper study of understanding the mind. The mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Please de-link from the habit of a detracted mind that leads into doubt. Doubt feeds fear; Fear feeds danger. When the world feeds fear and doubt, we lose our way in the dark.
However, the teachings share that we always have a choice. We can choose to bring the attention inward and cultivate a steady focused mind by linking to our breath. To bring together the body and breath, we can shift the autonomic nervous system and awaken an inner calm of knowing.
A peaceful presense of being must be felt in the body. We cannot control the outcome, but be present to the actual experience of what is being revealed, without judging whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. We can simply witness the mystery and awe of being fully alive. I want to inspire the inner knowing to awaken, and together we can shine our brilliant lights. The joy is to actually feel the calm and ease as the nervous system shifts as we unfold to possibility.
It is in the season of the dark when we plant the seeds of creativity. Listen to the inner knowing and be still. This is profound opportunity to nourish the unseen, the invisible. Take away the form and allow us to transform into something new.
I have grieved that the old has to fall away and I have accepted this season with the willingness to let go. There is no rebirth without the death. Transformation is the gift of living and let us be grateful that we can be the light in the stormy night.
The light in me honors the light in you,
Laura Jane
Curious about the ancient teachings of yoga? Is something inside yearning to transform? Want to expand your relationships and further build community? You may be ready to explore our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training for yourself — a wonderous program that will change you deeply even if you have no desire to teach. Come attend a information meeting to learn more about the curriculum and ask questions.
Enthusiasm for care and community is alive and reaching out during these difficult times. And we couldn't be more thrilled!
Last weekend's Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial Yoga Practice & Fundraiser was a great success! We had over 50 people registered, and we raised $1000 for The Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic research. The afternoon's inspirational and moving practice took place both at YAF's studio and online over Zoom.
Kim Eisendrath
Kim Eisendrath, one of our recent teacher training graduates and new YAF teacher, organized the fundraiser and led the class which included favorite readings from Candy's books. Chair and eagle were a couple of the poses taken to honor RGB's work on the Supreme Court as well as America, coming together and equality. And nine sun salutations were completed, one each in remembrance of a friend or family member who has passed from pancreatic cancer, including RGB and Candy Stevens. Throughout the practice, Kim reminded everyone to take what they need from the practice, that she couldn't tell them how far to go into a pose. "It's your body. You decide." "Don't think your life. Experience it. Feel it." Just as RGB and Candy have done.
Kim said of the special class,"it was such a pleasure to be able to share this powerful practice with everyone who was able to participate. The practice honored both Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Candy Stevens though concepts of equanimity while raising funds for a cause which is close to my heart."
We thank all of you who donated and attended the practice. And a very special thank you to Kim for all her work and for a practice that sure to be remembered long after we experienced it.
Kim teaches Yin Yoga on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7am.
Learn more about The Lustgarten Foundation, research they do on pancreatic cancer, and how to donate.
