As I emerged from my quaranbubble, I, like many of you, started to side-eye some folks with whom I’d spent loads of time. In particular, I had an individual in my life who loved to connect to be petty, share tea, but wasn’t there for higher vibration or depth of conversation. The conversation that emerged from that realization and its subsequent consequence of the dissolution of a friendship has led me to ruminate on reciprocity in relationships.

About 20 years ago, I realized that I had a problem… 15 years ago it was different, and then there’s the persistent one that I’ve dealt with since times of food insecurity. But the thing that was behind it all? Needing to shift a relationship.

I learned to sit in and contend with discomfort in Yin Yoga, and I learned to allow whatever was going on to coexist with rest with Restorative Yoga. Somatic & Slow Flow has allowed for me to lean into active movement while continuing to listen to myself. I’d been escaping from life’s realities through hard core yoga asana (movement) classes for years only to find myself with the ability to do hard things physically, but still wanting to escape mentally and emotionally. Diving into a deep, intuitive and mentally challenging practice is what has helped me contend with pandemic realities, deaths of dear ones, and the inevitable changes of life. I truly can’t say enough about the power of these practices.

I will not lie to you and say that I am interested in struggle. The last traumatic struggle I endured was moving beyond the death of my mother. I don’t embrace or welcome struggle — this is why I am not a swami. LOL. But, for those of us looking to step into the call of awakening, bettering oneself, shedding past insecurities, evolving, transcending, moving beyond fear… now is that time.

Psychologist Carl Jung introduced the concept of the Shadow in the early 20th century and it still is a vibrant part of the science of healing today. In our most recent Goddess Talk, a group of women and myself shared stories about our shadow selves, and how they’d been hidden or used in the past.

Yoga Nidra, or yogic sleep, is a powerful and accessible state of consciousness obtained through skillful guidance that takes place while comfortable in savasana. Students are led through the five layers of the self (the koshas) into a a state of consciousness between sleeping and waking, after which they will feel restored, renewed and with a sense of wholeness.