We are living in challenging times that can easily invoke fear and overwhelm. I am not advising switching off from the news – the media – or the state of our world – I am not a head-in-the sand kind of person, but I want us to feel safe – secure – grounded in ourselves- so that we can hold the space for ourselves and for others… We live in a world which seems to be at odds with the central tenets of yoga – the yamas and niyamas – the ethical focus that underpins the conscious yogic journey. Whenever Patanjali had a list, the first concept was the most important, so Ahimsa (non-violence) guides the other yamas, and I would say all of the 8 limbs, all of our yogic journey. If we could embody Ahimsa – embodying compassion – we would be great yogis. I am deeply inspired by the work of Maya Tiwari and her Living Ahimsa – she asks us to cultivate a life lived in ahimsa. If we practiced, non violence, non-harm – we could cultivate compassion, respect, trust, tolerance – the building blocks of a respectful, tolerant society.
Beyond the yoga philosophy, our work together focuses on balancing the nervous system – feeling safe within ourselves – embodying trust.
Fear keeps us separate… it keeps us in judgment, of ourselves and others… fear and separation breeds intolerance and injustice… It is obvious really that the embodied practice of ahimsa is our antidote to this, but we need to see where judgment and intolerance creeps in. Where we get desentized to the world around us. Where we choose not to look.
“Fear often feeds upon itself and we’re mostly afraid of the fear, which then gives it greater power… But ultimately we are afraid because we feel vulnerable.”
-Ram Dass
Adam and I are putting together a collection of Meditations to become Fearless – when we go beyond fear, we learn to trust… we find inner strength… courage… Adam is leading a Beyond Fear Masterclass using fascial release ball work to tune into bands of tension in the body. How do we hold fear and tension in the body? What does overwhelm feel like? Let’s tune into subtlety and start to create signals of safety. Let’s check out our body armouring – let’s clear the mind – let’s tune in… so that we can reach out ready to hold others…
“‘If we could change ourselves, the tendencies of the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him…. We need not wait to see what others do.’”
Gandhi