December: Our Journey - An Ending and a Beginning

We’ve reached December.  The last month of our year-long exploratory journey of yoga’s ethical principles.  Let’s review where we have been after this month’s News!
 

NEWS:
 
It was great this past month to pair up with mindfulness advocate and author Martha Brettschneider on a joint workshop on managing holiday stress. We loved sharing tips for how to listen within and capture healing and peace through mindfulness and self-care practices.  There is so much that can be done to bring healing to yourself throughout your day.  You don't need huge chunks of time to manage stress!
 
Next up is an exciting collaboration again with Martha, as well as Frederike Butler of Butler Communication.  On February 8th our trio will be offering a great workshop on Organizational Well-Being. More details coming soon! 
 
I've been getting inquiries about whether yoga therapy sessions can be gifted to others.    YES!  
This is a great way to offer a gift of support to a family member or a friend who is looking to enhance their self-care and well-being.  Particularly as we approach the New Year and its opportunity to begin a process of self-renewal.  Plus, I am offering a great special on a 5-session series through December 31st!   Reach out now to give a gift of empowerment, awareness, self-compassion and support to someone you love (or to yourself!).  

May your holiday season be filled with health and peace. 
 
 
December:  An Ending and a Beginning
 
For the past 12 months we have explored of the ethical principles of yoga:  the ‘Yamas’ and ‘Niyamas’.  The Yamas being the “restraints” within our yoga (& life) practice and Niyamas being the “observances”.  These ethical principles were set forth by the ancient yoga teachings of Pantanjali in his Yoga Sutras, and we have examined them through the lense provided to us by Deborah Adele in her book The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice. The principles essentially guide our yoga practice and the intersection of where yoga meets life, both on and off the mat.  
 
Yamas 
Ahimsa – nonviolence
Satya – truthfulness
Asteya – non-stealing
Brahmacharya – non-excess
Aparigraha – non-possessiveness
 
Niyamas
Saucha – purity
Santosha – contentment
Tapas – self-disciple
Svadhyaya – self-study
Ishvara Pranidhana – surrender
 
So why is this both an ending and a beginning?
 

• Self-care. Self-compassion. Self-acceptance. Self-love.

 

• Letting go.  Growing at our own pace.  Listening within & honoring what is.

 

• Practicing moderation to find balance.  Welcoming even life’s challenges.

 

• Cultivating a non-judgmental inner witness.  Getting “out of our own way” as we open ourselves to the healing experience of self-study. 

 

• Surrendering to the flow of life as we “walk into the mystery.” 

 
 
This is where our journey has taken us this past year.  It is also where we are still going--because like life, our journey is constantly unfolding with each moment.  Yoga, like life, is a continuous practice. 
 
Our muscles stay strong with a continuous practice.  Our ability to be present in the moment and treat ourselves with compassion is also a practice that only works if we keep working at it. 
 
How can you support your journey in the coming year? How might you cultivate and nurture your ability to listen within and develop your inner witness?  How can you embrace a new beginning rooted in self-compassion? These are marvelous questions to contemplate as part of your personal self-care looking forward. 
 
During this time of year we are wrapping up holiday gifts.  We also tend to be wrapping up yearly reflections.  As 2016 draws to a close, I hope you will spend time reflecting on your inner gifts--those unique and special aspects of yourself that you can own, honor, and share to the fullest in the coming year as you continue the beautiful journey of unfolding your life. 
 
You are all such beautiful beings.
 
With light and love,
 
Carolyn