I am creating these "Yoga Extras" blog posts for those of you resonating with the public yoga classes & Yoga Teacher Trainings I am leading. Inside of these blog posts you will find extra resources that support our weekly class theme. The weekly classes I guide are themed according to the season & collective energetic "weather"--This is of course influenced by many things; for instance, not only national and global events but how masses of people are feeling about and reacting to those events. It is also influenced by space weather (see spaceweather.com) & the current movement/placement of celestial bodies ie: the sun, moon, planets, nodes, stars, etc. You can find me teaching currently at Black Swan Yoga (North-Anderson) in Austin, TX. I am on the schedule as "Erika K." Mention this webpage for a free class.
Physical Focus (Peak Pose): It's a shortened week & many of you responded very positively to last week's flow/theme, so I'm following my instincts & offering a variation on said flow/theme. Slow grounding strong flow focusing on low back & Quadratus Lumborum (at the side body of the low back) to help ease tension in the spine & free up movement, comfort & breathing. We will also do a Vagus Nerve reset in preparation for the holiday season.
Philosophical : Family, Relationships, Loneliness (See additional reading for the week)
The low back holds the energy of survival issues as well as family. Many of us are preparing to spend time with the folks that have known us since we were older versions of ourselves & perhaps relate to us as those older or out of date versions of ourselves. This can bring unprocessed emotional patterns up to the surface which aren't usually our preferred ways to feel. The good news here, however, is that we now have an opportunity to say or do something different in order to create what our reading this week calls a "healing ceremony."
I'm noticing that many of you are checking out the blog & I am hoping you are finding the podcasts and reading resources helpful. I am leaving here all suggested listening from last week but also adding two that I have found illuminating & helpful at this time.
This is a time when several folks report relational difficulties and loneliness (even & sometimes especially, when in the company of others). The podcast I am placing at the top of the list (literally...see below) right now stresses the idea of REPAIR. Repair being the element that actually strengthens the connection between us relationally. & as far as loneliness goes, I've got a story I'll be sharing in class but should you miss that, here's the gist: I overheard a doctor asking the question, "If you had 6-8 months to live, what would you do with that time?" I took the question to heart & was surprised by my own answer. There may be a small handful of people & places that I would travel to to experience one more time, but again, it's small. I see myself, under those circumstances, wanting the live the exact life I am living today, with one difference; the difference would be the laser-focus I would hope to have on my own presence & appreciation of what is. I welcome you who are reading this to consider such a question. In the moments I feel a sense FOMO (fear of missing out...on anywhere I am not!) or loneliness, I consider that the Life-force/Consciousness/God-consciousness/Spirit/Source is breathing inside of every molecule that exists. Therefore, I am constantly amongst the holy, never separate from Love & my next experience of that (which is what I yearn to be near) is as close as my feet.
Grateful today to be at home with each of you in the great family of things,
e.
Below is the reading of the week as well as the book it belongs to. Beyond that you've got a bunch of podcast listening ahead (2 new ones added this week are at the top). Click on the podcast images for a live link to listen. Enjoy,
in joy.
