Many wisdom philosophies remind us that change is the one thing that is a guaranteed part of living, yet experiencing change can feel really challenging, right?
Guess what? Yoga, meditation and mindfulness / bodyfulness practises can all support us to become more at ease in navigating unexpected change, whilst also supporting us to evolve and change as our awareness and perspectives evolve.
‘’Nothing is permanent, except change’’ - The Buddha
If we are really honest, we all know that change is inevitable. The cycle of the seasons or changing tides and phases of the moon. Birth, growth and passing life. Our our ever-fluctuating breath, feelings and thoughts all reflect this very clearly.
Because we are wired to resist it, change can feel daunting and challenging. We cling to the safety of familiarity, as unexpected change stimulates a threatened nervous system response = fight, flight or freeze state or sympathetic Nervous System. Subconsciously, we might naturally fear change.
So how the hell do we get more comfortable with change so we can live each day with a greater felt sense of ease, compassion and awareness?
“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of one's being to be experienced, explored, enriched and, thereby, educated.” - Thomas Hanna
Sensations within our body are ultimately how we experience the world. Through this interoception, we learn to label feelings as emotions to cognize our experience. Such as learning a rumbly tummy means we feel hungry, or a dry mouth, thirsty, an increased heartbeat, anger or fear perhaps. In part, this is why I love working with children, to teach them about feelings and develop emotional intelligence. Such valuable life skills to be able to recognise, allow, and nurture our feelings. Hello self-compassion!
A more nuanced and sensitive connection to our inner felt body takes ongoing practice, and self-awareness, and meditations on breath and body sensations can support us connect to these ever shifting internal states. By learning to neither cling onto, or push away, but 'be with' our feelings (therefore not fear them) we can increase our emotional intelligence, awareness, and ultimately the skill of being present to each moment, just as it is. (Be aware that neurodiversity, trauma experiences and many other variables all impact our ability to sense interoception too. You are not broken. We are all unique).
(Image credit @kelizabethdsgns )
We can practise accepting and allowing change within intuitive movement in our physical yoga practice too. Being and moving with fluidity, like water, in a balance of effort and ease, finding and allowing our own changing path to evolve from one yoga shape to the next. Or to take greater time in stillness, and noticing shifting internal states, as and when you need to.
My intention when guiding practise is therefore to hold space for you to become familiar with your felt experience. Through these explorations of mindful, awareness, breath, movement, yoga asana (postures) and restorative rest, we gain familiarity with our ever shifting internal states, and be with the change that each moment is.
And perhaps, over time, we might notice the ripple effect of this spilling off the yoga mat, into life. Allowing change to be a part of life, with ease, as much as we allow the changing tides and the phases of the moon.
"Yoga does not change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees" - B.K.S. Iyenga."
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