8/13/26 Recording:
https://vimeo.com/1219088732/a5e8bd9f6f?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Our August 13 live session began with a midpoint check-in before moving into our exploration of Aparigraha (non-attachment/non-grasping). We also considered the chakra system as part of this conversation and continued our practical sequencing work with the Strength & Resilience phase.
If you weren't able to join us live, please watch the recording above and share whatever resonated with you. If you prefer a little structure for your reflection, you might consider one or more of these optional prompts:
- How does Aparigraha invite you to think differently about attachment, expectations, letting go, or your role as a facilitator?
- What, if anything, resonated with you as we explored the chakra system alongside our discussion of yoga philosophy?
- 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?
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.