3/19/26 Live Session Recording (Module 8)

I caught most of this weeks lesson live but was having connectivity issues during the last hour! I'm excited about the final project, thank you for sharing examples of previous projects done it gave me a lot of ideas. I don't know why, but I find myself crying every time I do your yoga sequences 🤣 maybe it's because I feel safe to release and the somatics are helping me do that. I just love this class!

I was unable to attend live due to being out of town for Spring Break, but I watched the session last night. It was very helpful to see the many expressions of creative reflections and integrations of the course. From video and digital story examples to the example of a garden, to a collage, to meditation and music, all examples have really inspired me to start thinking creatively about how I want to connect everything we have been learning and experiencing together. It seems like just yesterday we started the course, but now we're already thinking about final projects and sequences. Module 8 and this class session really brought a lot of emotions out that I hadn't expected. It's making me question everything from my role in my current job to my living situation. These are not easily answered questions, but I feel like there are more questions to come after beginning to answer them. I used to be able to connect to my gut instinct fairly easily, though lately it has been harder as I've been pushing myself out of my comfort zone too much. The part in class where you stated "if your body is giving you signals, pause,' really resonated with me. I've been feeling like several elements in my life have been out of balance for a while now, but several moments of pause over these past twenty-four hours have really begun to impact me and lead me to some answers that I have been looking for. 

I've been practicing Saucha this week by clearing literal clutter (too many objects, clothes, and random things) in my living space as Spring cleaning. It's amazing how much more calm I feel when there is more walking space in my bedroom. I have a tendency to hoard clothes and other things caused perhaps by a time when I did not have the ability to buy the things I needed, though once I let go of unused objects or other things, I always feel better. Those things have been taken to a thrift store where someone else can find use for them. Through physical clearing of space, there is more room to grow (not to buy more things,  due an emphasis on non-attachment and Brahmacharya) but to grow internally and to find peace through release. 

I missed the first hour of class this week so I am catching up now. I was really moved by Latisha Watkin's poem on the theme of "She Who Blooms" which was provided as an example of a final reflection for our YTT, especially the metaphor that something had pushed her into the ground, and in turn it was there in the ground that she was able to take root and "blossom" (or "bloom"). I've only written one poem outside of school, and had never considered it as a way to complete the Final Reflection requirement but I'm glad that I was exposed to this possibility and I think I might at least attempt to do my Final Reflection as a poem/prose combination. 

The niyama discussed this week was saucha, and I have reflected a lot this week (or in the past few days) about intuition as a form of clarity. I don't have any metaphysical or spiritual beliefs per se but I do think there is something going on beyond what our current science can register and conceptualise, maybe in one hundred years it will be different but in the meantime we pick up on vibes, energy, intentions in ways that go beyond even micro-expressions made on someone's face or logical inferrences based on past experiences, and to me that is intuition. I used to struggle with CPTSD and so I worked hard to unlearn the idea that the world is dangerous and to undo all the ways I had trained myself to be constantly on the look out for signs of danger or negative emotions in others, but I realised when talking in my breakout group on Thursday that maybe I went too far and just shut out a lot of the signals and subtle cues that are out there in the world. I'm hoping to get back in touch with that, instead of telling my inner voice/sixth sense to shut up, maybe I can listen to it more. 

I was only able to catch the last hour of class so I'll respond to the teaching on Saucha. This module is comically placed in my life right now, as I'm navigating the strangest breakup I've ever had. A person I love and believe is a truly safe, wonderful parter has broken up with me in the most respectful loving way. We even attended two couples therapy appointments together post breakup, and unfortunately are still sharing the same apartment until my new lease begins April 1. I had been advocating for waiting it out a bit longer, until other things like my living separately and couples therapy to really get their footing, but my now ex partner didnt have the gas in the tank to keep pushing any longer. Its been more than murky for my heart and mind to digest the reality that this is over, while paired with the sensory cues of living with him and seeing and communicating every day. There is also some evidence that hell have a change of heart down the line, and yet I cant' live my life for a "maybe", and need to proceed as if it is indeed dead. There stark lack of Saucha extnerally, but internally I remain very clear on the type of partner and partnership I want, and the type of partner I want to be... and boy is it helping me practice Aparigraha!

The final reflections were all beautiful and thoughtful. I found the long poem (I think by Alejandro, not sure if that was his name) was deeply meaningful and beautifully written and reflective of his PYP training journey. All of the artistic expressions, from the vision boards to the poetry and music was inspiring to witness. Definitely has me pondering how to best integrate and reflect on the journey of this training in the weeks ahead.

I also really enjoyed watching the recording of Robert S's photography in prisons and around the world. AMAZING person (along with his dog, Otis 🙂 and a gorgeous body of work he's created over the years. I think his collaboration with PYP and the work he's doing in the prison system is so profoundly important in that he's giving the incarcerated a way to feel and be seen, by their family and the world at large. Well done, Robert! 

It was my spring break this past week so I was able to watch the recording and participate in Jen's movement session outside by my brother's pool. I realized how much I love practicing outside, without any mirrors, where the energy can expand and be released. I really appreciated this practice this week as I felt it gave me the ability to slow down, focus on the breath and increase my mobility and range of motion in some areas of my hips that really needed to be opened and stretched. I was thinking about Sacha and the clarity I felt after the session, just a sense of lightness and ease, as if some excess energy melted away and I was able to be more focused in the present moment throughout the rest of my day. Very grateful for this practice. 

What stood out to me about the final reflections is how openly creative we are able to be when it is our turn to share. Has me thinking about what might be the best way to show appreciation for this training. 

In these bizarre times, Suahca is not easy to achieve. It is a constant challenge to find our own clarity in knowing the truest of self internally, knowing how much others have tried to skew that perception in this world, externally. Taking my foot off the gas pedal to observe and listen more has been the best way to navigate and chose the next best thing to for myself and family. Noticing that I do in fact have choice is the most pertinent thing I've taken from this section of training. Not everyone has that option and, I'm here to bring what I can to assist in creating a more balanced society.

I was impressed by the guided relaxation, felt relaxing and engaging. It is something I do offer in classes but, don't find in all yoga classes I partake in. I was also taking notes about how to reframe certain verbiage when teaching this population. Not knowing that fetal pose might be a trigger and how to better approach some things I say casually in a more anatomical way. Usually, I would say something like "Fetal position represents our rebirth from corpse pose" and even before coming into corpse pose, stating that we practice death/detachment each class with this posture. Explaining further that detachment = of ego/movement/thoughts etc. Not sure if this environment (prison) would be the place for this type of conversation, please respond if you have thoughts about this approach. 

Clarity is an interesting word to me. When I have space and time for achieving clarity, moments, ideas, things become clearer. You have time to think straight and this time leads to a 'clearer view'. No clouds or obstructions in the way. 

Found the following tips very useful and also good reminders: 

- The newer the group, the more talking during integration and relaxation. 

- Body scan more appropriate when teaching particular groups 

- Offering the alterations to savasana

- Normalise rest is vital 

- Stillness can be vulnerable 

And, there's a reason for the slow return to sitting. 

Also great question asked at the end regarding the sequence Jen taught and the fact that it was a combo of the 6. 

What I continue to take away from these sessions is practicing loving kindness to yourself and to everyone else around you is vital and first and foremost. 

Thanks Jen!  

Thank you so much for taking the time to share some final project examples. I also appreciated the simple word shift from "purity" to "clarity." Something I have enjoyed taking to my class from this has been the permission to "let the body decide" where to go with the movement...offering small cues and ideas after introducing a movement and then letting each participant complete the movement how they want. Little changes like this honor each individual self in the room.  

All the samples of final reflection projects were inspiring and may challenge me to learn a bit about technology/Canva/AI to do the project that came to my mind.

The discussion focused on synonyms of purity certainly adjusted my perspective because, as a woman living in a Christian patriarchal culture, I certainly had a one-dimensional understanding of the word and it’s meaning. I really appreciated the assertion that we must do our own inner work because Saucha isn’t simply about judgment we level against others. The way we take care of ourselves directly translates into how we can sustainably show up in the world and how we sustainably show up for others.  

I wish brother Duncan stayed because I have no doubt he would be an excellent facilitator assistant. Overall I appreciated watching and hearing the instructions for this sequence, especially the directions for ways of sitting during the twist at the beginning, and transitioning/adjusting foot placement and knee directions for goddess.  

Hi again!

Seeing the final reflections was a relief to me, because I can always produce some creative stuff of this topic that is so close to my heart 🙂

The perspective to this topic is fresh. How it is more about the gut instinct and natural stage of things, than some externally ruled cleanliness one must achieve and maintain. Even some feelings can be paart of purity. When one is honest to oneself,  one allowes oneself to feel what naturally arises as a response to injustice (among other things).

The nervous system of the gut - the second brain. I´ve heard about it but now I understood it more clearly. This is playing a big part in my life and I´m struggling with it. The digestion. The purity of food, and the clear connection between my conscious mind and this deep gut feeling, intuition of the stomach. Been covering it a lot by eating, specially sweet things (with lots of poisonous chemicals). And now as a middle aged, I´m suffering of bad teeth and stomach. But that´s just life. Trying to accept it and live in the here and now, with my body and not against it! 

Restful practice has brought tons of good in my life. Practising this way helps me stay strong and mobile in challenges. I know where my core is and when it´s time to return to practice. At least much more than before the regular practise!

Thank you for this wonderful practise and learning opportunity! <3

I really enjoyed this session and especially the little cameos from Duncan 🙂 

I've been feeling under the weather this week and a bit lackluster/low-motivation, but looking at all of the creative final projects really inspired and rejuvenated me. I could've probably kept looking at examples for the rest of the class. I particularly appreciated the different poems and creative writing examples. Stevie's "A Prayer to be Bold," particularly the reflection that a river "knows the brutality of being and still chooses to flow" and asking the earth to teach them to "rise without regret." That caught my attention and later resonated with the discussion of purity/clarity, as well as rest and relaxation. In the past month or so, I've been struggling to know when I really, truly need to honor rest and relaxation and when I am retreating away from presence and avoiding the hard things. I'm working on slowing down and developing self-trust, knowing when to rise and be brave/bold and when to soften and allow. My movement practice has really helped me tune into an inner voice that I feel like I've lost touch with, but lately even that has felt a bit muddy. Even so, I want to notice the muddiness without judgment and meet myself there. Although I, too, carry a lot of (Christian, patriarchal) baggage around the word "purity," a phrase that came to mind was "pure of heart," this idea that you know when your intentions are pure. This showed up during the movement practice when I gained clarity around an inner desire to be "fixed" by the movement. I reminded myself that, while I might be uncomfortable in my current emotional and nervous system state, i don't need fixing, nor is my yoga practice intended as such. 

Hello all! Checking in here to reflect since I wasn't able to attend live. I loved seeing the final reflection projects from previous graduates especially the chanting and singing... Oh my goodness. They created a resonant feeling inside of me. Much gratitude to the participants for allowing you to share those, Jen! It has me thinking about whether I might want to lean more creatively for my own final project. I am already planning to create a program for the outpatient clinic I am in so I had thought maybe a project proposal would be fine but this has me opening up to other options as well...

Purity can bring up icky feelings/memories for me from a childhood of very very organized religion. I liked the reframe of seeing Saucha as clarity because I think clarity also reminds me more of trusting our intuition or gut. I also really appreciated learning about the Enteric nervous system and was shocked to learn it has more neurons than our central nervous system. It has been paradoxical for me in my own life to realize that it took me walking away from organized religion where there was so much talk of the Divine for me to actually connect with a Divine within myself and I think Saucha and the Divine are very connected. This has allowed me better insight into my deepest knowing. It has shown me who to keep in my circle, where I need to stand up for myself and where I may need to work harder. 

I appreciated seeing Duncan as I was doing the asanas with my two pups by me. Thank you for your teaching Jen!

Hello! I loved seeing some examples of the final project, truly beautiful and great representations of their PYP experience. I appreciated the conversation around purity as that is a word that is tough for me to swallow due to my religious background. Exploring other words that fit and feel better was really helpful and nice to explore. Through my whole PYP journey tapping into my “gut instinct” has been something I have been trying to do daily as it is something that I have a really hard time doing because of my trauma history I often don’t trust myself and was told that I shouldn’t. I loved learning more on how to connect to our gut instinct, especially the slide on conversation. As always thank you for a great lesson Jen! 

Another week I was sad to miss the live stream - this group is always so open every week. 

I think Saucha may be one of the concepts I personally struggle with the most. I do like the idea of decluttering and clearing things out, having ADHD I find I have a busy mind and so I often keep a lot of "things" around me to help keep me calm with options. That may sound counter productive, but it helps me personally. I do practice the idea of keeping things that are important or serve a purpose. If there is a way to preserve something without holding on to the object is something that I will try and do. 

I do think the checking in with yourself/ grounding to check in with that gut instinct is key!