If you weren’t able to join live, I'm so glad you’re engaging with the material in a way that works for you. As part of completing your weekly participation, please take a moment to share your reflections below.
You're always welcome to share your own reactions, takeaways, or questions. If a prompt feels helpful, here are a few to consider:
- What came up for you during the movement exploration of range of motion? Did anything surprise you or shift your awareness?
- In our discussion of Satya (truthfulness), we reflected on both personal and global truths. What does “truth in practice” mean to you right now—as a learner, facilitator, or human?
Grateful for your continued engagement and insight. 🙏
Jen
Thank you for another great class, Jen! I found a lot of avenues for reflection in my own life in relation to truth and emotional range of motion/capacity. In terms of the movement practice, I noticed that I am quite disconnected to my own body and that the gentle invitations to explore different movements set the foundation to become curious about this disconnection. Intentional pauses allowed me to process heavy/difficult emotions that have been present for me recently, which in turn assisted to create a sense of clarity, lightness and integration. To me, truth in practice means becoming introspective and making a genuine enquiry about the ways in which harm has been enacted in my life, whether that be self or other inflicted. It is a pathway to uncovering the conditioned patterns, thoughts, and beliefs that have shaped who I am and how I interact with others and the world around me. It is an opportunity to take an inventory of the people, places and communities that uplift rather than drain my capacity, to explore integrity in relation to intergenerational trauma that has occurred within my family and the potential for reconciliation.
What a lovely session! I caught the first half live but due to the time difference I can find it gets a bit too late to be fully present. So I actually did the range of motion again when I re-watched during the day which meant my body and brain felt much more inclined to move and I could sense the changes in me more. I really loved the concept of a 'micro-movement practice', and as someone shared 'building magnitude with small movements' which I wrote down for my notes. I'm really enjoying exploring a different way of holding a yoga sequence as the traditional sequencing has often felt quite daunting to me, this micro-movements offer a accessible access point. Looking at satya has also been interesting looking into what does the truth mean to me and how does that show up in my daily life. An endless exploration!
Thank you for another incredible transmission. 🙏🏼
I found Both the conversations on satya (truthfulness) and the embodied yoga practice focusing on range of motion to be nourishing/helpful.
This weeks class spoke to me through the lens of the four noble truths. After attaining enlightenment under the bodhi tree the Buddha taught The four noble truths:
- the truth of suffering
- the truth of the cause of suffering
- the truth of cessation of suffering
- the truth of the path- eightfold path
I have been meditating for the past year focusing on embodying and understanding the elements of the four noble truths.
I have suffered. i currently suffer in this human experience and at the same time I meditate and study for the cessation of suffering.
Right View (the first stone in the non linear path of the eight fold noble path) continues to inform my existence.
We live in a world where profit is given more significance than people or planet. Some people choose to imprison, persecute and destroy others based on a false narrative and fear.
I feel that We have lost our connection to each other and our planet. We are interconnected beings having human experiences on this beautiful living planet. As we breathe so does the earth.
At this time and moving forward, I honor my vow to be a peacemaker.
Awake or asleep
In a grass hut,
I pray
To bring others across
Before myself.
-Dogen
- What came up for you during the movement exploration of range of motion? Did anything surprise you or shift your awareness?
I was so surprised by how mindful I was able to be during the range of motion practice. I initially thought I would get sidetracked due to the pace, but the question prompts helped me to stay present to each of my joints and truly assess how I was feeling overall. I echo what one of my colleagues said about inviting my incarcerated students to try this flow, and trust they will also be able to encounter the fire within from contemplating their own ranges of motion (physically and emotionally).
- In our discussion of Satya (truthfulness), we reflected on both personal and global truths. What does “truth in practice” mean to you right now—as a learner, facilitator, or human?
In an era of such falsity, I have actually held deeply to the idea, or perhaps ideal of truth. In much of the work I have done this summer, as educator, facilitator, and assistant to a fiery, courageous journalist who has been relentless in his advocacy for the silenced/marginalized, I feel like truth has become the greatest embodiment of hope I sense in myself and those I am in relationship with, professionally and personally. I notice myself more intentionally admitting things to those in my personal life that I would have tried to gloss over, fluff, or suppress for various reasons. I notice myself more audacious with those I encounter, in protest, conviction, or advocacy. I feel like no matter how far, wide, and deep the lies of this global moment are, my hope in truth remains unshakeable-- this is in large part due to the fact that for now at least, I feel like I have partners in truth-telling. I owe a great deal of that privilege to being part of this yoga community and the honor of knowing the narratives in this space.