The Anusara teachings and this community fill my heart and ever challenge mind and body. Much gratitude to John Friend, my teacher, and to all my friends on and off the mat.
Now off to teach Level 2 @ 8:30, Gentle & Therapeutics @ noon, “Free Your Head, Open Your Heart” (celebration workshop) @ 2:30.
I am ok and grateful for my well-being. I am also, among other things, grieving the death of two different friends in the last month and the remaining dregs of democracy. I could be more ok than the ok that I am. Some people aren’t ok at all. How are you?
I woke and dressed myself as early as if it were a work day to take the metro and then the bus to the little playground/park where we entered the creek. It was already promising today’s humid heat in the sun, but it was pleasant in the shade. The group was a good size. Large enough to get some work done, but small enough to stay easily connected. We divided the work — path or creek — based on who wore which shoes, which allocated the cleaning well.
It was a beautiful way to appreciate off the mat the Anusara axioms, “look for the good,” and “respond from the highest.” As you can see from the pictures, Long Branch Creek is a lovely sanctuary of greenery and running water. It is evidently not fresh, but it is still giving its all. We could see the beauty, but also recognize that the creek could more powerfully share the energy of nature if it was not so dirty. Rather than complain that the creek was dirty and dangerous and stay away from it, we were invited to appreciate both what it is and what it could be and got our feet wet and ourselves dirty to be with the creek. I wish it weren’t necessary, and I will be looking for more ways to try and contribute less waste, but I think in the meantime, it would be right to do this more often.
For the past few years, my friend X has hosted a Day of the Dead celebration. This year, it had not been in his plans. Enough of asked, though, that he is hosting a small dinner. The Halloween of candy and costumes has not had a big draw for me; it was never made much of in my childhood. Taking the time, though, to sense the thinning between the worlds and to take time to honor my ancestors is of great meaning. Having been privileged to be invited into the festivities of the Day of the Dead has enhanced my consciousness of this time of year.
Today, when I practiced, I first reflected on those friends and family who have left their physical bodies in the past year–some quite significant to me. Thinking of those friends and family led me to think of others long gone in body, but not in spirit, and others who are still living, but with whom the connection remains only in memory. To all, I offered honor and recognition of their part in my being. Of all, like the taste of the sugared skulls that are part of the Day of the Dead, I am consciously thinking some, among whatever memories may arise unbidden, of what was sweet.
I am not missing getting a mani-pedi. Never did manicures. Stopped polishing my toenails right before I went to India in 2017 because it was one of the things that I was holding onto that I could let go of that was bad for the environment. I’d been painting my toenails for long enough that it took several months before they looked clear.
I’m glad I don’t miss painted toenails. I would have, however, preferred to see my hairdresser of 36 years, rather than have snipped at the back of my hair myself this afternoon.
Did you practice any yoga today? Did you find yourself raging or grieving over the cruelty, injustice, ignorance, and selfishness in this country? Did you appreciate something in your life? Did you speak out and/or give money or time? For me, that’s pretty much been a daily “yes” to all those questions for years.
The more things in progress, the more unavoidable things happening that impact our day and health, the more we need to cultivate awareness.
