8/13/26 Live Session Recording (Module 7)

Reflections:

How does Aparigraha invite you to think differently about attachment, expectations, letting go, or your role as a facilitator?

Aparigraha allows me to feel encouraged as a facilitator to overall allow myself to feel the freedom that comes with knowing that I can only control how I show up. It gives me permission to not stress about the the things out of my control, and to allow myself the grace to show up as I am, knowing that I don't have to know everything or strive for perfection in order to be a supportive facilitator. --I can hold space for myself to show up as I am with a growth mindset, without grasping onto ideals, and I can mentally be in a mindset that is supportive to holding space for each class's needs by not having expectations for how a class will go, as it will always be different in bodies and environmental conditions.

What, if anything, resonated with you as we explored the chakra system alongside our discussion of yoga philosophy?

I found it so interesting to hear Jen talk about the chakra system being ancient knowledge of the nervous system. I had never heard or thought about it in that way, and it's a cool perspective I will keep in mind. I would like to continue learning more about the chakras in my own time to be able to make these connections more seamlessly in being able to guide in using the philosophical language from a more intuitive place, while also connecting it to our bodies, as we discussed--finding the balance. I have always appreciated and found helpful to use the imagery of chakras during meditations, and since I'm a very visual person, I feel like studying the properties more will help me expand my voice in this area of finding creative ways to incorporate these topics in guiding.

During the Strength & Resilience sequencing discussion and practice, what did you notice about how we might invite participants to explore strength without defining for them what strength should look or feel like?

I feel it's so valuable to be able to bring this perspective of how "gentleness" can be strength into the conversation, and how we can integrate that into how we explore the physical practice. It's such a beautiful metaphor that translates so well onto the mat and our self-study of both physical and mental resiliency and noticing what our bodies need in each moment. As always, I appreciated Jen's playful attitude when guiding the physical practice, during normalizing the variations of each posture-- to me, adding this playfulness to the inquiry of what feels good is a wonderful way to allow the invitational cuing to feel extremely welcoming in that there is no "right" variation, and encouraging the curiosity of what feels like strength in our bodies today to take the lead, and that it takes strength to be present, and truthful about what our bodies need.

Learning about aparigraha provided me with a huge opportunity to reflect on how often attachment can show up through expectations, especially in working with people who are incarcerated or involved in the justice system. In my role, I can want someone to make a certain choice, engage in treatment, or make progress with ADLs or employment, but ultimately I can't control another person's actions or outcome. Aparighara reminds me that I can be present and supportive without becoming attached to the result, which I think is important for both the people I work with and for my own well-being. At the end of someone's supervision, I find that it can be difficult and a bit emotionally jarring to "let them go," and similarly, I find that many of the people I've supervised continue to call me for advice, to share their successes and challenges, and ask for resources. While I don't mind the continued engagement past the end of supervision, it is important to recognize when the relationship has become overly dependent, or when I have become too invested in the outcome of their choices once that professional relationship has technically ended. It's interesting through, thinking about how invested we do get in their lives, knowing everything about them, knowing the most negative and positive choices they've made and serving as a support pilar for them, and then one day that just ends.

I also connected this idea to the chakra system because I found it super interesting to consider how different areas of out lives can affect out sense of stability, power, connection, and expression. The combination of the philosophy and the physical practice made me think about resilience as something that comes from being willing to adapt and let go of what we cannot control. That feels applicable to not only people navigating the justice system, but really anybody who is leaning how to move through a change without allowing expectations or attachment to define their experience. One piece of valuable advice I received from a probationer recently was, "I can't let myself drown in it," which I think perfectly sums up aparighara. 

I recently had a heartbroken good bye to someone that I loved. This is so wired timing that I am learning 'non-attachment' at this point where I am suffering from not letting this person go in my life yet. I am suffering from my obsession of the memories, places and seasons that I shared with this beautiful soul. And I am suffering from myself who is holding these so tight so it even becomes anger. 

'Ignoring ourself right now causes suffering' Yes, I agree. My obsession of the past memory is taking my present moment away and that is probably I am in pain. 'Guilt' is one of the barriers to letting go and that is so true at least for me. The guilt of my behaviors and regret are definitely holding me from letting go.

The key of letting go is observing the things or the people the way it is with the neutral mindset without analysis without judgemental thoughts. Observe those beautiful past memories just the way it was and appreciate that moment and then gently let it go again and again. I like when Alejandro said that we are human being, we all attach something. Yes, we are only human being. It made me feel relieved and made me think that we need to be a bit generous to ourselves.  When we are generous to ourselves, it becomes easier to be generous to others and the situations. I believe that way, practice of letting go also becomes easier.

The most impressive phrase from today was ' Feel Everything but take nothing' So beautiful. I got goosebumps everywhere when Jen said this. I love it.