Yesterday was the last day of our summer intensive.
It
has been a very magical experience, a privilege to be a part of.
There is something about practicing
together with a shared intention that is transformative in a way that is beyond
words.
As a teacher it is awe inspiring to observe
the commitment, willingness, and dedication of the participants. It is also
humbling to watch bodies, minds, and spirits literally light up and transform
as the week goes on. It is an
opportunity to see the unique beauty of each individual in the group and yet the
sense that we are all mere particles of a larger reality is palpable. It is
apparent that there is no “me” teaching anything – just there to hold the space, guide, and be witness to the transformation
unfolding.
Coincidentally during the intensive someone
from a newspaper asked me what I thought about the popularization of yoga and
how it had moved away from traditional spiritual practices of India . I know he had a point but because I was in
the midst of this amazing experience, the question seemed trivial. The practice we were doing could be
scrutinized as westernized by someone’s standards, but that does not make it any less valid. What was
happening in the yoga room was every bit as sacred and spiritual as what
someone might learn in an ashram in India , and perhaps even more so.
Self awareness, acceptance, compassion,
transformation, and joy are not limited to methodology, lineage, and they are
certainly not limited to yoga. Still yoga as we know it is an opportunity to
integrate the practices of the body mind and spirit. How deep a practice is
ultimately depends upon what we bring to it. This week was an opportunity to witness beings
show up with love, courage, and a willingness to surrender to the divine flow
of life.
Namaste
Shauna