Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
~
Rumi
Hello there,
I must've read the last part of this poem a zillion times, but it's only recently that I read the full version and was struck by its relevance. Many of us nowadays experience this latent feeling of anxiety about where the world is going and our place in it... The answer is not to "begin reading" as the 13th century mystic suggests. From way back he can already tell that our modern media craze and mind-numbing content bulimia is not the answer.
🪕 Rather, the invitation is to turn to our own sensibility and sense of beauty, to embrace life in "hundreds of ways". Rumi speaks to our capacity to shift our perspective and create our own path to loving what is already there.. or waiting to be.
So what is it that you do that you love? What are your ways of kissing the ground? 💋 Here are some of mine...
🧘🏻♀️ Doing more free practices which are self-led and unplanned, rather than following a set sequence or group class. This is not always easy (even for a teacher!) as you're only accountable to yourself to quiet down, stay present & tap in your own guidance. I know it might feel intimidating but I urge you to give it a try. Trust me, your body knows how to move. Read more
🌿 Recharging in gorgeous nature during a trip to Kangaroo Valley with Lliam. I feel like getting out of the city to a cabin with no phone reception & surrounded by lush wilderness should be a monthly requisite for modern day living. Slowed down & humbled.
🪔 Reading Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi, and highlighting every second sentence! This is a highly insightful book about how to engage with what the author calls a "life practice". Donna gives us a refined account of the inner processes that unfold as we learn to apply this sacred art to our everyday living. If you read only one book on Yoga, especially your first one, this might be it. Here's an excerpt:
(And yes I'm aware this is "reading" 😅 but it's more about self-inquiry and practical application. Anyways, books are awesome.)
💃🏻 Celebrating my 31st with delightful friends and moving to hectic beats (it had been sooo long). I also played my first open mic in years! Music and dance are the best therapy... Let me know if you'd like to team up for an evening of euphoric moves or Kirtan sometime?
Stay silly x
Lou
PS: I'm planning to teach a 2h workshop all about Arm Balances + Inversions (all levels) in late June so stay tuned. Feel free to reply to this email if you'd like to stay in the loop 🤸🏻♀️