Iyengar Yoga for Grief & Anxiety
Yoga is often defined as union, the union of mind and body. It offers us a pathway for unity both within ourselves and beyond ourselves.
Yoga teaches us how to be an integrated whole, connecting our little 's' self with our captial 's' Self. It teaches us how to observe, listen, self-reflect, and be in dialogue. These skills help us feel whole on a personal level but also help us meaningfully connect with the world we are a part of.
I am so saddened by the state of affairs in Israel and Gaza. The accounts of what is happening are horrific, and from my comfortable seat of privilege, incomprehensible.
I have dear family and friends in Israel and my heart aches for them. My heart aches for the Israeli hostages and their families. My heart aches for all the innocent Israelis who have been terrorized by Hamas and are grieving unfathomable loss.
My heart also aches for the Palestinian people who have lost loved loves ones because of this horrendous war, and for the thousands of people who have been displaced.
My heart is broken from what has happened, what is happening, and equally fearful about what is to come.
I yearn for unity, both within and beyond.
And so…I have turned to what I know, my yoga.
In this week's YouTube video, I’m not teaching as I usually do but rather asking you to join me in practice so that together, on the mat, we can be a symbolic expression of the collective unified whole.
This particular practice is one that I turn to in times of despair. I have found that it helps quell my anxiety. I offer a few thoughts for reflection, mainly pertaining to the symbolism of the asanas, but much of the practice is in silence. At the end of it, you’ll hear a beautiful rendition of Hine Matov, performed by my cousin, April Lavine. The verse is translated:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
In times of so much darkness, holding on to hope can be fleeting.
I was able to draw light from this yoga practice and the beautiful melody. My hope is that you can as well.
xo, /stephanie.