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8/7/25 Live Session Recording

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 Jen
(@jen-lindgren)
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8/7/25 Live Session Recording

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



   
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(@miss-coleman89gmail-com)
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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.



   
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(@kelseywood0gmail-com)
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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!



   
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(@dschattgmail-com)
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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:

  1. the truth of suffering
  2. the truth of the cause of suffering
  3. the truth of cessation of suffering
  4. 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 



   
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(@ssridhar)
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  • 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. 



   
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(@victoriasoryagmail-com)
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I have to say that I was very activated during this class. Truth and I have always had a weird relationship. I identify with Jen in the sense that I have used truth to my advantage in a manipulative way. Also, I would say that my first addiction was to storytelling. I never quite knew how to tell the world that my pain and sensitivities were enough, without exaggerating.

I am starting to feel a bit panicked. Like I understand that this is a practice and we can only strive for these things. But my relationship with perfection is so toxic. I get so suffocated when I think of discipline. I do appreciate that Jen had said that asking yourselves the hard questions was as much practicing yoga as being on your mat or anything else.

The concept of having a range of motion practice that can be our traveling buddy—I love that. I mean, I’ve carried my demons with me. Might as well carry regulatory tools with me too! Ha!

“Let youth be youth.”

It was so interesting to me to think about if AI goes against satya.

This by far was the best quote of the class: “Don’t lose your integrity in your ability to advocate for yourself.”

Service work is a beautiful tool for healing.

I just love these classes so much—like, this honestly feels life-changing!



   
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(@steve100)
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My apologies for such a late reflection but I was in the middle of a 77 hr week of nights and my head just wasn’t in it . I loved the invitational language you used during the range of motion and the fact you can do it for 10 minutes or 30 minutes which is especially important for me as my classes are always under such time restraints . I will definitely be bringing in elements of range of motion into my classes especially in the first few weeks of my course and I was impressed by how much you can do in a chair also . Truth in practice as a facilitator might just be been more compassionate in class with the students and focusing on the positives of their involvement and engagement .



   
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 Mary
(@mary-fishelgmail-com)
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Posts: 10
 

In this practice, I noticed a distinct difference in my physical range of motion between my right and my left sides and how my body feels after a tough workout yesterday. But the deeper challenge for me is usually the emotional range of motion. I have trouble staying connected to the present moment and remaining adaptable when I'm feeling discomfort. I feel like this practice taught me a lot about being aware and processing these sensations and recognizing these challenges as a teacher. 

The discussion on truth also resonated deeply with me. I've been reflecting on what it mans to live and practice in alignment with personal and global truths. For me, authenticity seems to come through nature and curiosity. Both move something within me. I was especially struck by the conversation around spending money in ways that reflect our values and truths, and I recognize this as an area I want to grow.

The exploration of barriers to truth stayed with me as well. I find it both fascinating and unsettling how easily people can become disconnected from truth when their only exposure is filtered through propaganda, advertisements, or narrow perspectives. This feels painfully relevant in today's political climate, where so many lies and distractions make it difficult to discern what is real. The practice becomes not only about finding my truth on the mat but also about cultivating clarity and courage to align my actions and choices with the truth in the world around me. I look forward to continuing to grow in my discovery of truth. 



   
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(@jessy-jess)
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Joined: 4 months ago
Posts: 4
 

Great class!  Thank you again for always recording these for us.  When you spoke on the barriers of truth, I felt like you were speaking to the majority of my life.  I never knew a lot of options existed out here for me  My life was limited because of Poverty, multiple incarcerations, and substance abuse which touched everyone in my family.  I was conditioned to do whatever it took to survive and take care of myself.  A lot of times, unfortunately, in illegal ways.  I learned this from my family too.  The samskara, the impressions and imprints are ever present today. 

On a different note....

The things that I cannot stop thinking about: Anthropology and archeology, world religions and philosophies, exercise, yoga, nutrition, wisdom, world issues such as war and climate change, TRAVEL, Extraterrestrial life, and some resentments too.  ( Still working through some stuff)

Question I am asking myself now after this class: Am I living in my truth?

In Solidarity and Love,

Jess 



   
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 Andy
(@andymccallumoutlook-com)
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Joined: 10 months ago
Posts: 66
 
  • What came up for you during the movement exploration of range of motion? Did anything surprise you or shift your awareness?

When I think or feel about range of motion it's a bit like checking in to see where everyone is, where they were before they arrived, and where they hope to be or likely to go. Everyone is different. Diverse 'being' on the mat. When I practice on my own I'm either ready, or motivating myself because my mood is low and I know that yoga practice will lift me. The best way to know where everyone is, is to ask what they feel they need. I am always mindful that your practice is perfect yoga and a full forward bend is the same yoga as standing in mountain pose and THINKING about a forward bend. There might be more strength and power in contemplating the movement  and deciding not to, it's all yoga. The neuroscience shows that the brain doesn't know the difference between doing and 'visualising doing. Fabulous. My plan for a course or session might go out of the window and an invitation might be to just be together. I went to a yoga class and the teacher said, 'Ooh the vibe. It's okay folks, let's just lie in savasana and see where we go. Whatever you need is right for you and right her, right now'. For myself, physically speaking, because of my background I like to know where my limits are and try to go beyond them. I had tight hips and couldn't squat with my feet flat. I used the stairs as a prop and went into a squat in bare feet with arms outstretched and juddering as I held on for grim death. I use my body as an extension of my mind, growing stronger together and in harmony. The Army taught me to dig into the 60% reserve psychological strength when I think there's nothing left. It hurts, and I transmute the pain with risking injury. I vibe with yogi's like me and seek to understand the diversity of yoga practice in others. I love the feeling of success when I achieve a deeper stretch and settle into, for example, the comfortable squat. I love and respect my body and all its muscles, nerves, tendons, tissues, cells, and bones. I know that when I look after my practice and feel gratitude for good genes and DNA, my body receives it well. 

  • 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?

Truth is a big deal for me. I posted a question to Hari Kirtana Das on a Tuesday session when I was in the January 2025 group. I asked, 'Is there such a thing in yoga philosophy as objective truth?' or something similar, but I was interested in validation of a deeply felt suspicion that there IS objective truth in the world. Hari said that objective truth is 'objective reality'. I was delighted. I have spent 58 years in a childhood and professions where it was all about truth. The truth of an event, the truth of a statement, the truth behind an allegation, the truth of memory, a lie in a truth, memory and truth, and lying by omission, which is a type of truth. What is the truth of life, the truth of me? what are the distortions? On my yoga mat none of that matters, and everything is what it is, was what it was, and will be what it will be, unless a person gives it a positive or negative value based on assumptions, perception or intention. The truth of my body is that my hamstrings will only let me bend forward 'that far' and it doesn't matter how ambitious I am, that is the truth of the extent of my stretch. My childhood was abysmal, maybe, and my parents were violent, alcoholic narcissists. Is that the truth or my perception with or without fading memory or post traumatic growth and healing? It doesn't matter. It is what it is, and satya feels like something to be or work towards. Yoga doesn't care about truth, and the Universe IS the truth. This is my mantra, that if I don't judge and don't seek to change anything, with no attachment to things, events, or people, then I thrive in absolute reality on AND off the mat, and I am therefore becoming the personification of objective truth with NO effort. Or trying! I love this course and its teaching - it is the ultimate invitation to me, to become me. 



   
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