On page 200 of my Meditations from the Mat
book, Clyde B. writes “what I like about yoga is that it is not based on faith,
it is based on experience. I know from experience that I carry stress in my
body, and the postures are ways not only of releasing that stress but
confronting it, experiencing it and understanding it. You have to learn to
accept it, to live with it, and to let it go.”
This passage has helped me deal with the challenges
that I’ve faced this year. I’ve also learned to be grateful for the gifts that
I have received from life’s lessons.
2013 started off being a wonderful year for
our family. Not only was I loving my first year teacher training but our new
granddaughter was born during my weekend teacher training in February! Gracie, our
angel, joined our three other grandchildren. What a great way to start off our
year!
Life was going along just fine: beautiful
grandchildren, great summer days spent at the lake with family and friends, an incredible
workshop with Jan and Shauna (even though I asked myself the second day if I
should be participating in this workshop). By day three of the workshop, I knew
that I could let go of my fears of inversion and just enjoy the journey. I
could feel the support from my teachers and yoga practitioners. Everyone was
compassionate and I started to understand that fear was giving me doubts and
anxiety. I was the only person
putting undue stress on myself.
I completed the workshop with a calm mind
and a new appreciation of yoga and my teachers. I felt so empowered and
grateful to be a part of this community. I didn’t know what life had in place
for me, but this workshop gave me the strength and the experience to accept it,
to live with it, and to let it go.
Thank you Jan and Shauna for helping me
find this lesson.
At the beginning of September, I came home
from a yoga class, walked in to the house and knew from one look at my husband
that something awful had happened. He had just received the news that a young
man, Tyler, who has been with us for over 17 years and who we love dearly, was
diagnosed with an aggressive bone cancer. This meant an amputation in the
following weeks. This vulnerable young man, who suffers from FASD and who has
always had the most positive outlook on life, could not understand the extent
of his diagnosis due to his challenges. My family was devastated. I became
stronger for them, ensuring them that his spirit would stay the same, and that
we had to be strong for him. We have to live in the moment.
Less than two weeks later, my brother called
me and told me he had to speak to me about something serious. His wife had
cancer and needed surgery at the beginning of October. Karen is only 51 years
old and has three sons. My brother was shattered. Once again, I found the
strength to support him and told him to live in the moment, to not think too
far ahead.
Last weekend, we celebrated Christmas with
our young man, Tyler, who is walking with crutches and always smiling. I have a
new appreciation for grounding the four corners of your feet and the tree pose.
He is a true warrior and has not lost that positive outlook on life.
the author is currently enrolled in the yoga centre winnipeg 200hr teacher training program
the author is currently enrolled in the yoga centre winnipeg 200hr teacher training program
