There's nothing like family drama to let me know where I am in my yoga practice. Nothing provides a better opportunity to hold center and stay calm and in the present moment. The go-to reactions and thought habits are made more conscious. Just how much patience and love and forgiveness and compassion am I capable of these days? How is anger and frustration justified, appropriate and even helpful when it leads to a positive change in perspective? How are my personal conflicts and struggles reflected in what my family is dealing with in a way that I can further heal and resolve them, and how can that positively affect my role and voice in the drama? What could possibly be a more important application of my yoga practice?
In fact this latest episode (sparing you the details, feel free to plug your own family or challenge here...) has given me a new awareness of the concept of "holding center." Meaning not blasting into orbit or otherwise wasting and draining my vital energy in judgment, re-action and unnecessary, unhelpful opinions. Remaining calm and grounded so as to respond to the situation rather than react. To exercise patience and a willingness to see how it goes rather than jump to outcome. To be with the process rather than needy of a quick resolution just because the situation is uncomfortable and uncertain. Whew! That's a tall order, but it's exactly the capacity we develop when holding a pose or moving more and more consciously through vinyasa, witnessing our thoughts and experience of it. Hatha Yoga is the gateway to our higher selves through the wisdom of the body and all it's processes. That higher self is our center, the core of our being.
It's important to understanding "holding" to mean keep sacred or holy, rather than clutch or grab with deep tension in an attempt to control. As we've been studying in class, there is a reservoir of energy to be cultivated, held like we hold our child or lover, with a continual flowing in and out to maintain health and balance. The breath is the movement of that energy on a physical level, and the bridge to center from all we deal with in the world.
May you have a centered, sacred week!
Namaste