It is so easy to get lost in our story filled with pain and resentment, worry and helplessness. I call it being stuck in a box. It is a very lonely place. We can examine our box from the inside, how tight the walls feel, whether we are alone all the time or if people visit us. Are there windows or doors? Do we dare to peek out into the unknown and look at the world beyond our own suffering?

We all recognize the windows, when the fresh air comes in and with it a sense of being able to breathe again and feel inspired. We might even recognize the door we peek out from and even take a step bravely out letting our old story go and risking the heart again.

At each moment we can check in and see how deep inside “the box” we are and look for the cracks where the light comes in. Are we out of the box? That is something amazing, something to acknowledge and celebrate. We are free from the old prickly prison of same old thoughts and we fly free like a bird outside it’s cage until we return again.

The practice is to come out, stay out as long as we can and eventually move out. The box will always be there; it is part of life. The practice is to check within yourself and recognize being in the box before settling long term, to use our mindfulness and yoga tools to find the way out again alone or with help. Open the doors, open the windows, open, open, open, open, open, OPEN.

My teacher Swami Satchidanada taught me that selfishness causes us to suffer in this way. We are meant to be connected to all, think of others, serve others. We are all One.

The heart can open the doors and windows wide even if the hinges are rusty. Love has that power. As you step out and free yourself of this prison and heal, we all heal. We are all interconnected.

Blessing:

​May you recognize in your life the presence,
power, and light of your soul.

May you realize that you are never alone,
that your soul in its brightness and belonging
connects you intimately with the rhythm of
the universe.

May you have respect for your individuality
and difference.

May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique,
that you have a special destiny here,
that behind the façade of your life,
there is something beautiful and eternal happening.

JOHN O’DONOHUE

Excerpt from the blessing, ‘For Solitude,’ from his books:
Benedictus (Europe) / To Bless the Space Between Us (US) ​

​Diana Meltsner is a C-IAYT certified yoga therapist and e-RYT500 Yoga Alliance registered 500-hour experienced teacher and teacher trainer. dianameltsner.com

Sri Swami Satchidananda often reminded us that the great surfers spend thousands of dollars to travel across the globe to find the big waves, and to experience the thrill of riding them into the shore.

Emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually we are experiencing big waves. In fact, it is a Perfect Storm of big waves which has already drowned hundreds of thousands of our human companions. What are we to do? How can we surf?

Here are several points to consider:

“This too shall pass:” For as far back as recorded history can reach, there have been natural disasters. The resilience that has brought our race through 200,000 years will bring us through the pandemic as well.

Look for a bright side: While this pandemic has caused untold amounts of suffering and hardship, there are important lessons that point to a bright side in this storm as well. One of these lessons is how Mother Nature is utilizing this time to prune and “reboot.” In the pruning process the shape of the trunk and limbs of the tree are revealed. In the same way, as we have withdrawn from many of our usual pursuits and activities the dysfunctional aspects of our government and society have come into full view. Inevitably, this will empower a humanistic movement to overturn some of the policies that have caused so much suffering.

Do whatever it takes to maintain your peace: Dig deep. Every challenge that is put in front of us has the potential to reveal our strength. Now is the time to find out how much stamina and courage you have. Put your principles to the test: as yogis our role is to be the presence of peace, wherever we are.

Pray: The vibration of peace is contagious. We can think of our vibrational frequency as a kind of positive, corrective virus!

If we pray with a well-focused mind, the messages from our personal “broadcasting station” will transmit far into the world. (Sri Swamiji once said that the thoughts emerging from a totally concentrated mind are as powerful as bombs.) So let our thoughts be a balm to soothe troubled minds and hearts. After all, we have been given the teachings and the training to serve this way, so let us not default on our role.

Equanimity: Surfers are extremely vigilant and have to continuously rebalance themselves throughout the ride. Our surfboards are our minds, and to keep our balance we have to continuously adapt, adjust, and re-establish our equanimity.

Self-Care:  Keep your own house in order. Learn how to be your own best friend, and shine the light of love into your own heart with total forgiveness and compassion for any limitations you may have. Slow down, lighten up, smile at yourself. Self-care is of vital importance to us all.

Equanimity is both a spiritual practice and a practical way to live when we balance our intention to serve others, with the need to keep ourselves healthy and clear-thinking. May we all cultivate a personal center of balance that enables us to be a presence of healing and peace in our communities.

Thomas Edison called for his wife to come observe as his laboratory was burning down… he said she may never see such a fire again!!  Now as we watch our own nation burning up, there is a great deal for us to learn. Watch your mind in all its reactions! See the forms of fear or anger or anxiety, and explore the effectiveness of your yoga tools in response.

The Weight (of the world) on Your Shoulders?

Well, at least it’s just the weight of YOUR world unless you are a world leader!

So, how do you carry that?  Obviously, you can’t reduce the mass of that necessary part above your shoulders – your head!  So, we need to work with alignment (bones/spine) and muscles.

One student who came to class had ongoing shoulder tension from playing and teaching guitar. After the first class, which I created to include some postures I knew would help him, his shoulder tension was gone.  This was a good motivation for him to work with me for a short personal practice to do on his own, which continues to work well for him.  This has also been effective for several other students after doing a personal shoulder practice for only a week.

My shoulders have never complained much, but they have been a work in progress to address my rounded upper back/excessive kyphosis which has them rounded forward.  Both have improved with consistent and creative practice, as well as other activities like swimming and resistance work to keep things strong and mobile. However, before you start throwing weights around I suggest you understand your shoulder more from yoga practice.  Otherwise, you can injure yourself or create secondary tension in your neck or elsewhere.

We’ll learn some of the best secrets for un-doing that shoulder tension in the Relax Your Shoulders Workshop on July 25.  Like Swami Satchidananda says, “Yoga is not Hindu, it’s UnDo!”

Please join Dawn for a Relax Your Shoulders Online Workshop Sat. July 25 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm PDT.