The Yogabliss on-line Moving into Meditation class met this morning. I am so deeply grateful that we are able to come together in practice. We’ve been living with the constant awareness of a physical and social pandemic. Some of us are involved with illness in some way – either being sick or caring about someone who is sick. Some of us are involved with social justice activism – either being on the street or supporting those on the street. We are taking in a steady stream of suffering. We are adapting; we are learning; and we are taking action. This day to day, hour by hour awareness of pain and suffering creates stress. When stress becomes chronic it comes to live in our bodies.
We explored a grounding present body awareness practice from therapist and trauma specialist Resmaa Menakem. In his book, My Grandmother’s Hands, Resmaa includes a series of body practices for healing the effects of chronic stress and trauma.
We reflected on the writing of poet, gardener, college professor, Ross Gay and his On Being interview Tending Joy and Practicing Delight. In his work Ross invites us to find and amplify the ordinary and wondrous beauty in life. He encourages us to cultivate tenderness in our lives even while struggling for racial justice.
