As the days get colder and darker, I want to find a warm little cave to burrow into, spend some time being fallow ground, and experiment with dropping seeds to see what germinates.

But the rest of my life doesn’t seem to want to play along – with the approaching holidays, my calendar is filling up quickly and my to-do list is expanding exponentially. And, with a new part-time job, my days are busier and more full than they’ve been in quite a while. 

This tension between the way things are and the way I think they should be is a familiar one, one that I think most of us deal with. When I get in deep, I have to remind myself that the tools I use with students and clients to help them navigate that gap between “should” and “is” in their bodies are also effective in other parts of life. 

Whether working with the mind or the body, it comes back to feeling. Knowing that the practice of listening to my body is a way of deep connection and welcoming of what is present in this moment, discerning whether this is feeding or diminishing me, and making my next choice. One moment at a time. One breath at a time. One choice at a time. 

Can you give yourself a few moments right now to tune in deeply and welcome whatever it is that you’re feeling? Feel this breath coming and going; feel the sensation in your nostrils, the gentle breath all the way to your belly. Feel your feet on the ground. Take another minute or so, just being. Know that you can come back any time. 

If you’re curious about how to grow your skill of feeling and use it to help with pain or stress management, reach out to me – I teach group classes and work one-on-one with yoga therapy clients, and I’d be happy to chat about what might work best for you.