A True Refuge
“Insights in practice only come when there is a pause in that struggle and we allow ourselves to yield into what is. ”
Beloved Mysore Yoga Paris Sangha (cliquez ici pour la version française),
As our days turn into weeks, I am slowly learning to navigate this new landscape with my family, friends and all of you…
What has become apparent is that confinement in no way equals separation, we continue to move closer together, finding new and creative ways to connect.
As always, I chant the Opening Mantra every day at 8am, and each morning I invite you all into my heart and breath… Do let me know when you are tuning in with me in spirit!
The very last time I taught before we all went into quarantine, was at my beloved friend Rosina Bonsu´s remembrance weekend in Glasgow. I talked about Rosina´s favourite Yoga Sutra 1:1 : Now - the teachings of Yoga. Or: The teachings of yoga is Now.
“Atha Yoganushasnam – Now, the teachings of Yoga”
What I realised is that there may never be a more appropriate time for practising this teaching than… Now!
In brief moments of calm and clarity, I sense the healing and aliveness that reveals itself when we are able to drop into the present moment as it is, rather than losing ourselves in projections, worry and anticipation of what may - or may not - come. This habitual neurosis of the mind causes us to shut out, exclude and discriminate anything we find difficult, frightful or unfamiliar - and instead grasp for what we already know. We end up closing not only our doors, but also our hearts. We hide in our own cocoons, creating a false refuge.
Insights in practice only come when there is a pause in that struggle and we allow ourselves to yield into what is. It is only when we relax our grip, our constant effort to bend the reality to the shape we think it should be, that we can meet our actual circumstance with openness, interest and compassion.
By using Atha, Patanjali teaches us that whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, pleasant, unpleasant or neutral - Now is the supreme place to practise.
Then our practice can become a sacred pause that invites all sides of reality into awareness, and meets it with a friendly, curious wakefulness.
This is our inner Shala, our true refuge.
We remain closer together.
Do keep in touch, I´d really love to hear from you.
With All my Love and Gratitude
x kia, Paris April 2nd 2020
You can find my talk in our brand new Podcast Channel: Mysore Yoga Paris | Closer Together that Yotam and I have created for you.
I’m dedicated to continue to support your practice through this delicate time, creating an inner Shala where we can always meet. I will personally post resources, talks, meditations, practice soundscapes and inspiration as well as any updates on the situation in our Newsletter, in Mysore Yoga Journal, through our website, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. We offer all our resources freely, but are immensely grateful for any DONATION helping us with production costs, and the continued ability to uphold the shala and its community through this vulnerable time for the shala.