BRFWA: Breathe. Relax. Feel. Watch. Allow. A Kripalu Approach to life.

Hello World! It's been quite a while. Call it a long hibernation through summer if you will :)

The steps for riding the wave of emotion, the wave of feeling, the wave of what-have-you. The wave will pass regardless, but this just makes the ride that much more pleasant than, say, being washed around like you're in a washing machine, dragged into the undertow of whatever it is that takes hold of you. Sometimes we don't see the wave for what it is- a passing something. Sometimes it seems like the world is going to end, darkness is going to take over, there is no way you'll ever succeed, and nothing good and glittery will ever appear ever ever again. Sound at all familiar? When we lose our way what can we do? We can very easily freak out, continue to freak out, then freak out some more while searching for bright neon signs that say, "don't worry! you're going the right way!" But the freaking out is a waste of precious energy. And the neon signs are not always there. During these more difficult times can you stick with your practice, know deep down inside that you're going the right way? Even without the signs, without the positive reenforcement we can continue on the path and have faith that we will come out in one piece, stronger, more connected to our source than we were before.

Breathe. Come back to the breath over and over again. The breath will bring you home, will bring you into your body, your center.

Relax. Don't fight it! That whatever that you're pushing away with all your might will make an appearance whether you like it or not. It's easier in the long run to relax into it- when in a yoga pose that challenges us physically we can sometimes stiffen up and grip our muscles. When we actually take a breath and relax, we are able to soften, energy is able to flow more smoothly through our body, there are less blocks and less tension.

Feel. That screaming hamstring, that deep sense of loss, feel it. Let it in fully, embrace it fully for what it is- an emotion, a sensation washing over you.

Watch. Watch what happens, watch how the sensation shifts and changes in your body or mind. Watch how you interact with the outside world while in this state, in this place. Observe what's going on without judgement.

Allow. Allow it all to happen. Allow it all to wash over you. Allow the sensation to exist and allow it to leave without the need to understand, to get it, change it, etc.

These emotions, these feelings and sensations, they are not you. Stand strong knowing who you are deep down, seeing and knowing your path even when all the lights are out. You are who you are who you are :) embrace it and cherish it!

peace,
julia

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