ADDENDUM as of April 6, 2020
Wow! What a wild ride it's been these last few weeks on a local, national and global scale! COVID-19 is making and leaving its mark -- it is a HUGE karmic wake-up call for us all! It is not comfortable, but is shifting us in ways that we could never have imagined or planned. Remember, out of the MUD, the beautiful LOTUS FLOWER emerges!
There is no better time than this to work with "The Art of Letting Go." We are having to let go of a great deal, all at once, whether we like it or not!!
I am posting supportive videos on Facebook and holding weekly online yoga classes (Gentle and Yoga Nidra) until further notice. Please check my Events & Classes page for more info.
Please stay safe and well -- it is time for you to "come home." And to me, that means "going inside" and using all of my yoga, breathing, movement and meditation tools to do so. And sharing this journey with you all...
February 29, 2020
Every day, we have challenges and opportunities that arise. Or rather, situations can appear as challenges or opportunities and we have the choice of how to view them, and how they will impact our lives.
What flips a challenge into an opportunity? The choice to let go... of whatever you are holding on to: fear, grief or anger from the past; expectations; of limiting beliefs and judgments about ourselves and others; the need to control everyone or everything. In that moment when we make the choice to let go, the process of healing begins... healing from the inside out.
How do we "let go?' The good news is that there are many ways, many tools that one can use to start this process. It begins with a willingness to look at something differently. That willingness can start with a deep breath or a new, expansive thought, or perhaps taking a walk outside and looking at a tree or a vista in a new and different way. A fresh perspective comes when we are willing to shift ourselves first, instead of expecting others and the world to change for us.
This is energetic healing in the true sense of the word -- when we let go of toxic thoughts and behaviors, this creates a shift in the brain/mind which in turn begins to impact the physical body immediately. In yogic language, we talk about the "koshas", or layers/sheaths of energy. Picture yourself and your koshas as a series of Russian nesting dolls, one fitting inside of the next.
Our physical body is the densest kosha - it solid and is most accessible to our awareness, especially if someone is experiencing pain or discomfort in the body. The energy or prana kosha is the first layer coming out from the physical body which is connected to and accessed by the breath. It is responsible for the flow of life energy (prana) through the body. When we begin to breathe more deeply and deliberately, we start to heal this kosha which in turn contributes to the healing of the physical body which it covers.
The mind or mental sheath is the next layer, encompassing thoughts and emotions. It is accessed and healed through meditation. The wisdom kosha is next, including knowledge, intuition and perception; this kosha is also healed through meditation.
The final kosha, radiating out from center, is the bliss sheath. This is where one can experience complete bliss, joy, unconditional love, peace and happiness. Many of us catch a glimpse of this kosha after a yoga practice when lying down in savasana. Peaceful, light and whole... The activation of the koshas is directly responsible for triggering the Relaxation Response and taking us out of "fight or flight" mode.
The simple, courageous act of letting go is what starts this positive ripple effect and allows us to integrate as a whole, healed being. This is how we began our journey in this body and it is absolutely possible to re-discover this total healing and bliss inside of you.
Come and experience "The Art of Letting Go" with Raven at her next weekend workshop: ON HOLD UNTIL WE ARE PAST THE COVID-19 SITUATION.