The Wind of God's Grace

Last month was quite a busy one for me as my family and I moved from our short-term rental into our forever home! We feel so very blessed. As always, it's been interesting for me to observe how much my yoga practice influences my journey through any change. While settling into a home of our own with a little bit of land to care for has been our dream for a very long time, nothing worthwhile ever seems to come without a bit of effort.

We went through a lot of ups and downs during this process, and once that was settled, the physical task of moving yet again was upon us. Certainly, the enthusiasm for our new home helped to carry us through, but it was blended with the knowledge that we were more than capable of it since we'd done it so many times before. Much of our move required finding and tapping into energetic reserves, but we also leaned heavily into faith, knowing that we were supported, no matter how hard things seemed. Trusting in this at all times and in all situations seems to be what always prevails above everything else.

In our yoga practice, we learn not just about our body, our breath, and the mechanical movements in asana, we also learn to trust ourselves and to lean into the divine grace that is the thread that holds everything together. Sure, a great teacher can lend their wisdom and show us the way, but nobody can do for us what is ours to do for ourselves. At some point, we have to let go of relying on external influences and trust that we can carry ourselves.

In my early years of yoga, for the longest time, my teacher had us practice sirsasana (headstand) against the wall. I appreciated being able to learn how to best support myself without the worry of falling over and became comfortable with holding the pose for longer and longer. Then one day during class, after instructing students to move to the wall for headstand, I took my mat over to the wall and began to set up. I was on my hands and knees facing my folded mat, and just as I was about to put my head down, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was my teacher, telling me to follow her to the middle of the room. At first, I didn't see what was coming, but when she asked me to put my mat down in the middle of the room, far away from any walls, a bit of panic started to set in. Surely, she wasn't going to ask me to do headstand in the middle of the room?! But that's exactly what she was asking of me. Sensing my anxiousness, she looked at me and said, "You know this pose, you've been practicing it for a long time. It's time to move away from the wall and apply your practice here, otherwise, you'll end up never leaving the wall. I'm here to help you."

She spotted me that day and a few other times that followed. Looking back, I'm forever grateful for her nudge as she helped me see that I was ready. She supported me until I found the confidence to do it on my own. She was right, I was ready. I had put forth all the effort in practice that led me to the next step, but she gave me the gift of her presence. I knew that if I needed help, she was there for me.

It is the same with Divine Grace. Once we are aware of it, we can feel confident because we know we will be supported any time we need help. Setting aside any specific religious or dogmatic practices, if you look at what is beneath all teachings, including yoga, it is this premise that is shared. If we are all a spark of divinity, then we all carry its grace. In this awareness, we can find the greatest surrender, realizing that even though each of us has our own work to do, we never do it alone. No matter how tired or challenged we become; we can trust there will always be a way forward.

Life is one step, one breath at a time, with the current of grace beneath each one. May this awareness allow you to let go of your worries and feel confident in what lies ahead.

With love and light,

Laura

xoxoxo