You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all of that is life.
-J. Krishnamurti
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I love the above quote. I’ve shared it in class quite a few times as I feel it perfectly captures what the practice is all about. Yes, we often come together on our yoga mats to feel our bodies and to move energy, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Our yoga practice is symbolic of life in general. If we come to it with a sense of aggression, trying to prove something (to ourselves or others), we may notice that we do the same thing at home or at work. If we come to our mat with heaviness and apathy, we may see that energy is pervasive in other areas of our life. The work we do on our mats (and cushions) is simply a reflection and therefore an opportunity to see more clearly.
What’s important is that you’re willing to begin- even if you’ve forgotten where your mat is, even if you haven’t practiced for years. It’s not about what you haven’t been doing. It’s about what you can do now. It’s about making a choice to wake up. It’s about taking responsibility for your own happiness. It’s sometimes a matter of believing that you’re worth it.
Ecce will officially be opening in mid-late June in our new beautiful downtown space. Just as the quote above encourages, we will be offering not only yoga and meditation, but also creative movement, dance, hooping, monthly film nights, song circle and poetry gatherings, community potlucks and more. We will be an inclusive, welcoming space for everyone. We will continue to learn and grow together, making our community more compassionate and more resilient. I can’t wait for you to be a part of the journey with me!
With much love,
Brenda