COURAGE - FIRE PRACTICE
JUNE 7, 2010. Who is the most Courageous person you know? How do they inspire you to be more courageous? When was the time in your life you were MOST courageous?
All these self-observations and contemplations were the focus of or practice today. And who doesn’t need more courage. When I come to the mat to teach my intention for each student is that this practice helps them rise with courage to meet the challenges of their life. And yes we all face challenges. Judith Lasater a national yoga teacher, author and a personal hero of mine says, “Courage is the second most important quality to cultivate in life. (Right after love).”
It is easy to fall into believing the old stories about ourselves and getting stuck. Or as my friend Sadie Nardini says in her book Roadtrip Guide to the Soul, “Alongside positive change, challenge appears. You will confront old fears, old ways of being, as you drive through to your soul. Along the road to your best life possible, be prepared for delays. There will be potholes, irritating construction, and long stretches of open space where nothing seems to be happening. That’s life, imperfectly perfect. The lag times and frustrations are necessary to hone your discipline and commitment to your path.”
This much I know for sure, that to live life to its fullest means to risk being hurt. We cannot numb out or check out. Oh for certain comfortably numb will keep us from pain but we’ll never get to experience the joys of love and passion and excitement and happiness that are our birthright. Having the courage to really action the secrets of your heart will bring you to your fullest potential. It doesn’t make it less scary but isn’t the scariest thing not about having the courage to try and fall but more so not beginning to live at all?
Hey I get it. In April I finally took the risk and mustered up the courage to begin teaching Yoga Retreats. Does it take me away from the studio I love a little bit (well like 3-4 weeks a year)? Is that scary for me? YOU BET IT IS! But I know that by doing 3-4 retreats per year I not only help sustain the studio but I give myself the chance to try something I’ve always wanted to do. And that is to change the ecology of heart and mind for my beloved yoga students.
I come back a better teacher and I have more to offer everyone. So it’s a choice. You can use this practice to connect to your own best courage, open your heart and ride the biggest wave of your life or you can stay on shore and risk nothing. It’s up to you. May you rise up to meet the courage of your heart! Love the day, Silvia (I want to honor and humbly thank my teacher Shiva Rea for sharing with me the Agni Namaskar Fire practice we did today that I shared with you, pay if forward...)