I had never considered the idea of excessive empathy, especially in relation to yoga or Brahmacharya. This perspective on the concept of excess struck me as particularly interesting. As someone who facilitates art and wellness programs in correctional facilities, I often wondered why I felt so compelled to bring healing into these spaces. Initially, I believed my intentions stemmed from my experiences of having many loved ones incarcerated. However, I had never thought of it as an excess of empathy. 

When I viewed my feelings through the lens of Brahmacharya, it was an "aha" moment for me. I realized that it is possible to have empathy while also needing to reflect on my intentions. I began to ask myself whether I was engaging in this work because I wanted something in return, or if I was trying to compensate for my own experiences or those of my loved ones. This insight prompted me to consider the balance between my empathy for others and my own personal growth. 

This module was filled with so many gems.  

There’s SO much to say about Brahmacharya! I have never previously thought about privilege and systemic oppression in terms of an “addiction to privilege,” but wow, after diving deeper into this, I can really see the overlap of concepts. Long reflection incoming on my deeper dive into this:

One explanation I found described it like this: “The human brain naturally craves safety, comfort, and predictability. When societal systems deliver these advantages automatically, individuals become conditioned to rely on them. Over time, this unearned ease becomes a baseline expectation. Any attempt to alter that baseline can trigger intense psychological resistance, defensiveness, or a feeling of personal deprivation.” So basically, when privilege is challenged, the ego can go straight to defense mechanisms like denial, gaslighting, or defensive reversal because there is a perceived threat to safety and comfort. Our brains naturally try to avoid discomfort and uncertainty, and we tend to gravitate toward what feels familiar, convenient, and safe. Acknowledging and relinquishing privilege requires us to intentionally sit with discomfort and challenge the assumptions that have allowed us to experience certain things as “normal” or “deserved”.

This explanation resonated with me strongly and helped me to see the ties to addiction. I think both addiction and oppression can be fueled by a fear of discomfort and a desire to maintain control over our environment. Both can rely on defense mechanisms, particularly denial and gaslighting. A person struggling with substance addiction may minimize their substance use or blame others in order to avoid confronting the reality of their behavior. They may also distort or deny reality in order to protect themselves and their relationship with the substance. Similarly, oppressive systems can minimize injustice, deny systemic harm, and gaslight marginalized populations by dismissing or questioning their lived experiences of discrimination. I think there is also a tie to tolerance building and escalation in both. In addiction, a person needs increasingly larger doses of a substance to reach their baseline functioning. In systems of privilege, people need increasingly larger amounts of physical space, financial means, and institutional buffers to prevent them from experiencing the discomfort of the direct consequences of systemic inequality. 

I think this is especially important to consider on our journey to becoming trauma-informed yoga instructors. If our goal is to create spaces that are truly safe and inclusive, we have to be willing to examine the systems and privileges that shape our own experiences and the experiences of others. I think this connects strongly to the practice of satya, or radical truth, and being willing to acknowledge both systemic barriers and the benefits that we may receive from those same systems.

I also think it is important to avoid “spiritual bypassing”, a new term I just learned on this deep dive. Spiritual bypassing is when people use spiritual beliefs, ideas, or practices to avoid emotional wounds, psychological problems, or difficult human realities. For example, saying “we are all one” or “good vibes only” can become a way of avoiding the very real and traumatic impacts of racism, poverty, ableism, and other forms of oppression. Being trauma-informed doesn’t mean creating spaces where everyone is comfortable all the time. Sometimes being truly trauma-informed means being willing to sit with discomfort, acknowledge harm, and recognize realities that may be uncomfortable for us. I don’t think we can create genuinely safe and inclusive spaces by asking people to just “focus on the positive” (toxic positivity). We can absolutely hold space for hope and healing while also being willing to name the harm of what is actually happening.

Thank you for framing privilege in this way (as addiction to privilege) and helping me to gain a new perspective & new vocab terms!

I enjoy focusing on my bodily sensations. The physiological response that I have to certain things is a strong indicator of when I need to leave a situation to protect my nervous system. Sometimes I will notice that my head and body interpret feelings differently, but my body always tells me the truth of what's happening that my head will sometimes shield for protective purposes. Overall, somatic practices are strong techniques for understanding ourselves on a deeper level. 

This session invited exploration into the 4th yama of Brahmacharya (non-excess) and continued building our trauma-informed sequencing skills through an introduction to Centering & Somatics.

Whether you joined us live or are watching the recording this week, you're warmly invited to share anything that stood out to you.

Optional reflection prompts:

• What, if anything, resonated with you about Brahmacharya as an invitation toward balance or sustainability rather than restriction?

• As you practiced or observed the centering and somatic sequence, what did you notice about your own experience? Was there anything that surprised you?

This week's mindfulness invitation is to notice balance and stability in your daily life. Where are you currently finding steadiness? Where are you noticing opportunities to cultivate a little more balance?

This discussion on Asteya (non-stealing) brings to my awareness how in order to practice asteya in this full spectrum, it takes a lot of open-mindedness to learn and adjust, and being extremely intentional and present to break through these barriers that are so conditioned in society of ways that we steal from ourselves and others. The idea that we can steal from our "experiences" is a concept that I don't know that I've heard expressed in this way before and it's a powerful practice with a lot of wisdom I'm grateful to be able to name and have this perspective on (as it brings up times i've experienced these sensations of my own experience of being stolen from and allows me to have awareness of how to hold space for myself and others). I love what Jen said about asteya being about "creating opportunity".

I appreciate Alejandro pointing out being gentle with ourselves as facilitators and others with the idea that we are "doing our best with what we know at the time"-being able to give ourselves grace because we are always learning and it's okay to acknowledge mistakes and ignorance when it happens-and to use these as opportunities to bring humanness and connection by acknowledging when ego or mistakes happen.

• What observations arose during our exploration of physical and emotional range of motion?

I really appreciate the discussion after the movement exploration about how as facilitators we can use the practice as a way of sharing ahimsa by leading with curiosity, not judgement, about our range of motion by bringing awareness through inquiry and normalization to how our physical and emotional range of motion is different in each moment, in each day. It's such a simple and powerful practice of noticing, that yoga has the ability to share through connecting and being present with our bodies. I loved Jen sharing the example of face yoga- and how the exploration can begin as small as it needs to.

• Is there a moment from our discussion, movement practice, or workshop that you'll carry forward into your own personal practice or facilitation?

I will definitely carry forward into my own personal practice, life, and facilitation these perspectives on non-stealing from these lenses of not only material items, but non-stealing from other's and our own experiences-it's such a wise teaching. --doing my best to be mindful of creating opportunities for others by being present, observing, listening, and taking action from this place of being with "what is", not from any expectations, and also with the encouragement from y'all that we are all human and to give ourselves grace.

Also I really loved the Jen vacation slide :) Beautiful job all 🌻 

Thank you <3

This week's discussion included some very valuable information and practices though! What stood out to me the most was out discussion of the nervous system and trauma-informed regulation. I really appreciated the reminder that practices such as breathwork are not about "fixing" ourselves, but rather, about creating an opportunity for the body to feel safe enough to regulate. I feel like it also reinforces the importance of offering choices and honoring each person's unique experience and individual expression, as opposed to assuming that one technique will fir each person equally. I love that breathwork can be modified to fit each person's practice without compromising its efficacy or impact. That perspective has deepened how I think about facilitating and sharing yoga with others, and it encourages me to approach both my own practice and others with more curiosity, patience, and appreciation. I have always been a fierce defender of, "it's your mat, do whatever you want," but this week's lesson really highlighted how we as facilitators can inspire independence on and off the mat.