Today I finished planning the last lesson of this term, all ready to be filmed, edited and sent out by Monday for students to practice next week. This term we have been working on creating harmony in the mind, body and soul.
In order to find or create harmony, first we must become witness to our rhythms of thought, emotion and behaviour. Then we become aware of how we interact with the rhythms of the world around us and to our inner world; observing whether they create a harmonious experience.....if they don't, that becomes our 'work'.
It is not about creating 'balance', balance brings to mind equality, an equal mix of opposing energy. This does not necessarily bring about harmony, it brings a fixed goal. Finding harmony requires flexibility not rigidity, after all everything we experience in life is fluid, constantly changing.
The definition of chaos is:
'Complete disorder and confusion.' 'The property of a complex system whose behaviour is so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.'
I feel that chaos is probably a fairly good description of what the world is experiencing with Covid-19. Most of us are not feeling 'in harmony' with the world right now.
This is where our yoga practice can ripple into our daily lives and help us do our inner 'work'.
If we are fixed in where we feel comfortable, how we think things should be in order to experience 'harmony', then when things move in an unexpected direction we become sensitive to small changes.....and panic when we experience big changes. We experience fear, anxiety and stress.
If we work on witnessing our thoughts, emotions and behaviours and how they interact with the world around us, we can become fluid ourselves, able to adapt; bringing about a more harmonious experience.
Harmony doesn't mean things are as we think they should be, it is about adapting our thoughts, emotions and behaviours to meet our experiences.
I believe the opposite of fear, anxiety and stress is trust, acceptance and mindfulness.
An equal balance of fear and trust doesn't create harmony, but bringing enough of each to create a sense of harmony in the individual just might. It's up to us individually to find how much we need of each and that is our 'work'.
It's not a one time fix however!
This is moment by moment, day by day work, life is ever changing so our response needs to be fluid and adaptable moment by moment, day by day.
Over the last few days, I have experienced a sense of calm,acceptance and optimism as both my husband and I had come out of a state of indecision on when to close all our businesses in response to Covid-19. Once the decision was made the relief was tangible.
However if I was to stay in that state of calm,optimism I could become blind to the changing situations around me, unable to respond effectively to the needs of my family, friends and community, to the work that must be done. We cannot survive on positive thoughts alone after all....I need to be adaptable.
Last night during my evening meditation I was drawn intuitively to the qualities of truth and transformation, both of which require action. So my yoga practice and my intention for today was different to yesterday as I adapt to the rhythms within and around me.
I thought, felt and acted differently today to how I did yesterday, but I still felt in harmony with my experiences.
Next month brings a totally new chapter to Paper Kite Yoga - developing an online community.
Starting from April, online classes will be available to any student* and these weekly classes will be available on a 'Pay-What-You-Want basis: Free / Half price / Full price it's totally your choice and that's ok with me.
I want to support you ALL in your home yoga practice, whether you can pay nothing or in full, I remain adaptable and flexible in how students choose to commit to their practice. Students can choose a different option each month as we remain adaptable to our individual, continuously changing situations.
Next month our practice will be themed:
Truth, Trust & Transformation.
I would love to chat if you want to get in touch and find out more x
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
Om shanti, shanti, shanti
Sophia x
*Students who haven't recently attended a community class with me will be required to have a brief video chat regarding current health/ limitations they might have and will be required to fill in a short 'Health & consent form' before beginning the online practice.