Statue Of Liberty - NYC
I'm still in New York and still touring yoga studious in the city before getting caught up with the NYFW hype.
As I sat at Vira Yoga on Saturday morning, waiting for Elena Brower to begin class in a room packed with over 80 die hard yogis, my mind began to wonder. I looked around to all these people I had never seen before in my entire life. They all had reasons to be here, whether to create space, awareness, to become flexible in their minds or to practice one of the hardest things on earth... forgiveness.
Elena started the class by referring to the John Friend scandal. Of course I was aware of this and the flocks of teachers that were dumping their certification left and right, but I had no idea what Anusara was or really meant it meant. However, I did know what MY practice meant. Vinyasa; where the breath is everything.
Vinyasa teaches "right" living in how we deal with ourselves and others. As I work on difficult poses, I learn patience, forgiveness, and the value of gentleness. As I flow on my mat, I feel free, and part of being free means learning how to forgive. One of the biggest misconceptions about forgiveness is that by forgiving someone we somehow make right what they did. We believe that if we forgive, then we condone their actions. I strongly believe that nothing could be further from the truth.
Forgiveness is often a difficult action to achieve. However, it is one of the most powerful sources of freedom. The choice to not forgive holds you in a self contained prison. This workbook does not suggest that you approach the person you need to forgive. Forgiveness is not for the source of anger or sadness; forgiveness is for the one who suffers from the action...YOU.
As Elena lead the class by creating space with heart and hip openers, she strongly urged to collectively make space in our bodies for everything we regret, everyone who were confusing for us right now, and know that whatever we see in others is just a reflection of ourselves.
Forgiveness is a journey. Once you truly forgive a source of pain, you have freed yourself from the pain. Forgiveness does not mean you need to re-connect with this person. It is simply a way to release a source that is holding you back in many facets. Dwelling on the reason not to forgive will simply strengthen the binds that are in your mind and heart. Wonder about the person who hurt you. They also have a past, they have also likely experienced rejection and hurt and betrayal. To be able to turn away from YOUR hurt even for a moment, and consider the other person’s situation, is not saying that their behaviour or what they did to you is justified - it is never justified! What it is saying is that they are imperfect human beings who have more growing to do.
Whether you forgive your teacher by walking away, forgive your loved one by speaking up or forgive yourself by being kind to your actions, remember that once you forgive, you may actually feel gratitude for the opportunity to grow stronger spiritually within. Who knows, this might even ignite you to pursue a goal to help others with a similar issue.
As Mastin Kipp, the creator of one of my go to blogs The Daily Love says: "Forgiveness is actually a very selfish thing. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you condone the wrongs; forgiving someone means you are no longer willing to let pain from the past hold YOU down from living your dreams."
Namasté,
As I sat at Vira Yoga on Saturday morning, waiting for Elena Brower to begin class in a room packed with over 80 die hard yogis, my mind began to wonder. I looked around to all these people I had never seen before in my entire life. They all had reasons to be here, whether to create space, awareness, to become flexible in their minds or to practice one of the hardest things on earth... forgiveness.
Elena started the class by referring to the John Friend scandal. Of course I was aware of this and the flocks of teachers that were dumping their certification left and right, but I had no idea what Anusara was or really meant it meant. However, I did know what MY practice meant. Vinyasa; where the breath is everything.
Vinyasa teaches "right" living in how we deal with ourselves and others. As I work on difficult poses, I learn patience, forgiveness, and the value of gentleness. As I flow on my mat, I feel free, and part of being free means learning how to forgive. One of the biggest misconceptions about forgiveness is that by forgiving someone we somehow make right what they did. We believe that if we forgive, then we condone their actions. I strongly believe that nothing could be further from the truth.
Forgiveness is often a difficult action to achieve. However, it is one of the most powerful sources of freedom. The choice to not forgive holds you in a self contained prison. This workbook does not suggest that you approach the person you need to forgive. Forgiveness is not for the source of anger or sadness; forgiveness is for the one who suffers from the action...YOU.
As Elena lead the class by creating space with heart and hip openers, she strongly urged to collectively make space in our bodies for everything we regret, everyone who were confusing for us right now, and know that whatever we see in others is just a reflection of ourselves.
Forgiveness is a journey. Once you truly forgive a source of pain, you have freed yourself from the pain. Forgiveness does not mean you need to re-connect with this person. It is simply a way to release a source that is holding you back in many facets. Dwelling on the reason not to forgive will simply strengthen the binds that are in your mind and heart. Wonder about the person who hurt you. They also have a past, they have also likely experienced rejection and hurt and betrayal. To be able to turn away from YOUR hurt even for a moment, and consider the other person’s situation, is not saying that their behaviour or what they did to you is justified - it is never justified! What it is saying is that they are imperfect human beings who have more growing to do.
Whether you forgive your teacher by walking away, forgive your loved one by speaking up or forgive yourself by being kind to your actions, remember that once you forgive, you may actually feel gratitude for the opportunity to grow stronger spiritually within. Who knows, this might even ignite you to pursue a goal to help others with a similar issue.
As Mastin Kipp, the creator of one of my go to blogs The Daily Love says: "Forgiveness is actually a very selfish thing. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you condone the wrongs; forgiving someone means you are no longer willing to let pain from the past hold YOU down from living your dreams."
Namasté,
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