Dancing Lightly Through The Seasons
I love all of the seasons, and the trickling – or thumping – transitions from one to the other. What’s not to like?!
Well, there’s plenty, really – snuggling in soft embracing jumpers, lighting mesmerizing, flickering candles, fragrant wood-ash drifting from glowing log fires, beautiful rainbows painted across tearing-through-the-skies clouds, crashing foaming waves, icy cold sea-dipping with that fabulous glow on coming out, delicate frosty spiders webs, black tree branches bare against pale blue skies. Even relishing the whistling wind and pattering rain against our windows, from inside our warm and cosy nests. Isn’t the power and the glory of nature awe-inspiring?
Yoga theory such as Patanjali’s Sutras teach us to “ride the wave” on this helter-skelter journey of life and allow our own happiness. I’ve been doing some work in my yoga teacher training course, on the Yamas and Niyamas, from the eight limbs of yoga. Two stand out for me in these months:
The Yama – Asteya – usually translated as “non-stealing” – I love the alternative flip of this to the positive: let go of lack, let go of what’s not needed- hoarding, acquisition, clinging on to the moment, judging it as good or bad. Instead, taking on abundance ~ we are, and have enough….
The Niyama – Santosha – contentment – teaches us to be happy where we are and accept ongoing change. Don’t wait for happiness!
For me, I am also in a life season of change and transition. I am looking at my journey ahead; through the lens of leaving behind a lifetime working in NHS healthcare and being Mum to four growing kids….and embracing the new of yoga and wellbeing work, and an emptying nest. Scary, and exciting. I both can’t wait to jump into the next phase of my life….hopefully by the sea; and am coming to terms with choosing to leave behind a life & profession I’ve loved, and knew I could do (well I winged the Mum bit with loads of mistakes!)
Reclusive Winter always segues into the fresh energy of Spring, that opens into the bright gloriousness of Summer, and snuggles back into restorative Autumn. Isn’t that fabulous? Perhaps we should be gentler on ourselves. Use our yoga on and off the mat, to meet ourselves exactly where we are, with compassion and patience. Because the one constant is that life is gloriously, messily, tragically, joyfully, endlessly ever changing. And thank the heavens for that.
About Sue
Still amazed and a bit imposter syndrome re being one of the Patrons of YHET. Loved, loved, loved yoga since my first taste at 18. Still a work in progress on being yogic tho…
Finally doing my yoga teacher training which is just beyond AMAZING! It’s my get-out plan from 30+yrs working as a clinical specialist respiratory & palliative care physio in the NHS.
Namaste. Om Shanti
Sue Eddy, YHET Patron