Down DOGMA

One more board rental spot just opened up for THIS Saturday! I'd snag it quick, weather is going to be nice

A Baker’s Dozen

Thirteen years since graduating my first, and highly transformative Yoga Teacher Training experience at The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. That’s a baker’s dozen years worth of teaching yoga in my beloved community (and abroad). I found myself curious to better understand where this phrase ‘baker’s dozen’ came from, and discovered a good ol’ fashioned lesson of morality. To keep it simple, a greedy baker learned an important lesson that only by being generous can one become truly prosperous. Now, we all likely know wealthy people with questionable moral character as well as those that are beautiful, kind and caring. There is no ONE mold.

So then, what is true prosperity? I don’t have YOUR answer to that, and one year ago I definitely didn’t have mine either. But, I have it now.

A year ago, I was in some dark night of the soul hell-story type stuff. Swallowed up back into anxieties and fears and misalignments and chaos, as is often a necessary step toward self-actualization. You know what I did? I turned inward to myself, my practices and this soft voice in my heart reminding me of who I wanted to be, who I really was underneath all of the confusion. I did less, not more. I stayed committed to myself. I kept uncovering ways to reach *her,* this deeper, more trusting, more compassionate, more present version of me. Damn, I thought; Isn’t. She. Lovely.

This experiential love and trust in myself has been a game-changer, because it’s come from a non-mental, unstrained, embodied place. You know, in the moments of my unfolding and suffering I would have loved to change so much, but is that ever really possible? Can we undo the things that have been done to/for us? Nope. Even if we’d want things to have been different, they can’t be. But, we can shift how we see it and how we move forward. The me that shows up now is more present. I’m stronger, safer, bolder. I’ve chosen to be softened and opened from my battle wounds rather than hardened, bitter and reticent. I wouldn’t change a thing. Discovering my worth, my words, and my love is in direct relationship with the willingness to feel my suffering. I wouldn’t change a thing. And now that I’ve done that on repeat for myself, I’ve found a new ability to be in the muck with others. This presence is where I prosper. Feet in the muck, glorious green abundance all around - with the very real possibility of slipping and being covered and entangled in the swamp and seaweed - a different version of the, can I say it, Goddess? She comes in all forms and I will continue to welcome her. And you.

No mud, no lotus. Thank you yoga, I love you.