Welcome to May
Hello and Welcome to May~
We have another month of classes with a few cancellations and substitutions. You will notice that we have no Friday or Saturday class this week— I am busy with the workshop with Desiree and none of the subs were available to fill in. I apologize for any inconvenience the cancellations cause you. Hopefully you can find some recordings to work with to keep the continuity of your practice alive. I’ll be back in action on Monday.
Some of you know that I have been on a streak of storytelling in classes. Each week I take a story from the yoga tradition and unfold it throughout the week with some commentary and musings. I’ve been enjoying having these stories as springboards for the classes and for my own contemplation. Themes such as the tension between participation and renunciation abound as do reminders about the ease with which the mind gets ensnared in the world of appearances and forgets about its true nature and purposes. And while the stories don’t generally have a lot to say about systemic issues of oppression and forces at play in the political world, they do acknowledge evil in the forms of deception, greed, envy, and power repeatedly misused. Many of the tales speak about the illusory nature of embodied life, which isn’t a particularly meaningful frame for me, although I do believe things are not always what they seem and reality as it is can be difficult to see in the face of one’s pattens, conditioning, and assumptions.
Of course, life as it is right now is as mixed as it ever has been with each news cycle bringing fresh horrors, while spring flowers are bursting forth with vibrant colors and the promise of abundant renewal. I am making it a daily practice to notice beauty, to pay attention to joyful moments, and to encourage connection wherever and whenever I can. It helps. And if you know me, you know that my current mantra is “I’m for what works” and I am happy for help in all it’s guises. As usual, I have no easy answers to the conundrum of modern times, nor do I think a good back bend makes the world a better place. That being said, I do know that taking time for self-care, self-inquiry, and self-soothing help me remember that I am bolstered by something larger than politics.
All right, y’all. I have a big to-do list to get through today so I am going to end this missive here. I appreciate all of you who reach out throughout the month to let me know how you are faring in these tumultuous times and I am always touched by the opportunity to share in the various challenges and celebrations of your lives. In terms of those many things larger than politics that bolster me, community connections like these top the list.
Love,
Christina
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