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THERESA BRIGGS YOGA
YOGA ON AND OFF THE MAT

TBY BLOG

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August is for: celebrating vulnerability. Allowing the soft frontside of the body open up. Moving into uncertainty. And knowing that you have your own back even if when you’re afraid you might fall.
💚💚💚

Part of the practice of yoga is embracing the unknown. Avidya, often translated as ignorance in the yogic texts, can come across as a negative concept in a world where we place such high importance on being right. On always knowing. Which doesn’t leave a lot of room for mistakes and growth.

We practice our yoga by acknowledging (and then reminding ourselves over and over and over again) that the only guarantee is change. That there is no real “knowing.” That much of what we think we know has been conditioned in us. And we work to recognize how holding on to “knowing” can create rigidity and suffering, both for ourselves and the continued suffering of marginalized groups in our communities.

So here we are! Months into a pandemic where no one really knows what comes next. Centuries into a culture soaked in racism and patriarchy. So thank goodness change is our only guarantee.

Keep practicing. Keep scratching under the surface of what you think you know. In moments of pain and fear and anxiety where it’s nearly impossible to access coping tools, the physical yoga practice (#asana) and breath-work (#pranayama) can remind our nervous systems that we are safe. If those practices feel out of reach because the agitation is too high, try jumping jacks, run around the block, or stomp and shake first. Try yelling! Or singing. These can all stimulate the #vagusnerve & help reset to the nervous system neutral so the quieter practices can become an option again.

#yogapractice #yoga #yogaeverydamnday #yogaeveryday #yogaforanxiety #yogainthetimeofcorona #yogaanywhere #polyvagaltheory #vagusnervestimulation #yogafortrauma #yogaforstress

keep practicing

10/2/2017

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This quote from Marianne Williamson is one of my favorites, and one that I come back to when faced with senseless violence and acts of hate, which sadly, has been far too often in our world.  In the wake of a tragedy like last night's attack in Las Vegas, I feel so insignificant, helpless and small.  I know I'm not alone.  

One of the basic tenets of yoga, ahimsa, requires that we do no harm.  This can feel relatively easy when we think of harm as physical violence, as most us are not violent by nature.  But choosing to love- in any and every situation-  can require energy and a force of will that isn't always easy to muster up.  We must continue to stay the course, and love others hard, even when, especially when, the gut instinct may be to shut down or push away.  This can be something as small as letting someone in front of you in traffic, having patience in a long checkout line, or being present and listening to your partner in a difficult conversation.  Remember to show that same love for yourself when your best intentions go awry.  
Keep practicing.  I'm so grateful to be starting a new Meditation class tonight to create some space to practice being less reactive and more present.  It is in this space that love can grow.  I don't mean to make this into an advertisement for this class- I just feel better knowing that I have these 20 minutes tucked away today to regroup and process.  If your budget can't swing it, my treat today. 
5:40-6 pm tonight at Bow Street. $5 drop-in.  
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    About this blog

    This blog, together with the occasional newsletter, will be an active space to share thoughts about yoga on and off the mat. Please let me know what you like and what you'd like to see more of. And as always, thank you for the gift of teaching!

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