Light and Shadow

I am enamored with yoga. It is so much more than a physical workout. It is wise beyond any book I have read. It sharpens the senses and challenges the mind. The essence of the practice is the BREATH, a bridge of awareness from the body, to the mind, to our (my) world. Yoga might sound so cliche to some and while the 'fad' has been around for many years I am just getting around to IT! It is my mentor for the bumps and potholes that blindside me, reminding me that I chose how to get up, get over and get going. Just like that!

Today the theme for class is clarity. I know. What does clarity have to do with yoga? Well, when the mind is clear, holding a pose is not so distracting that we lose our balance and collapse. Some poses wrap our bodies up into a small ball making breathing difficult and trigger past memories or perceptions of a situation. It sounds rather random but with objective awareness its amazing to witness what needs our attention to heal. I call these energetic knots that can block our chi. The energetic life flo. We all experience the lightness of being we carry some days and the darkness of confusion and complications other days. Yoga creates the context for us to notice and experience some of these life patterns and habits and change them if need be.

I had a flash of insight when the teacher expounded on the light and the dark in terms of opposites in yoga. Stretching our limbs way out there in either direction and using opposing muscles squeezing them towards one another creates strength in our core foundation. From this center we create a holistic balance in our lives.

When I was walking the Camino in Spain last November I was coming into a small village in the very early morning. The sun was coming up over the hills and I was just fascinated watching my shadow which was just off to my right side. I thought to myself, wow, the shadow doesn't diminish  the sun. The shadow is just an effect of light at play that seems to block the sun. but In fact, the sun doesn't know whats happening down here at all! Nothing can take away  or add to the Sun. Do you find yourself judging or taking sides when it comes to opposites? Something's good, something's bad, this is right and thats wrong? Yoga teaches me to pause and consider everything and come to think about it, opposites attract!

`Embracing both the light and the dark, opposite dimensions of words and meanings are all necessary and I believe  imperative to thrive and expand possibilities.  Acceptance, even in the form of surrender, loving what is, beautifully expresses the potential being of our divine nature, our authentic selves.
This is yoga. Loving my light and loving my shadow and loving life that always shows me what needs to be embraced, changed or re-considered!