Ground Hog Day Every ^&*! Day
Thought Offering
(The yoga) Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to, for a long time, without break and with enthusiasm.
Yoga Sutras 1:14 (Sri. Iyengar translation)
Weekly Journal Prompts
The thing that feels the most repetitious to me right now is…
That repetition makes me feel…
Something I like about this area is…
Something I can change about this area this week is…
Weekly Mantras
Repetition is the key to mastery
I thrive in this challenge
I believe in a universe that supports and loves me
Hello Sadhakas*!
So, this week we have the honor of celebrating Ground Hog Day- ahh the irony is not lost on me. “Isn’t that every damn day right now?” Is likely our collective first response to any call to acknowledge the day. But here is the thing about consciousness and strengthening your relationship to your Inner Teacher, it helps! So, when you hear that it’s ground hog’s day this week- your first and lower self-reaction says, “Isn’t that every damn day?! baaaa humbug.” Well, your higher Self is saying- “Ya, it’s ground hog day every damn day for a reason, wouldn’t you like to find out what it is so we can get the heck outta here?!”
We are here for a reason. Collectively and individually, we are being called on in a big, big, way to change our ways of being in the world and to change our world. So, OFF THE MAT this week I want you to ask not “why am I still being forced to do this?” but I want you to step into a space of asking the question “what is left to take care of here?”. And, if you think you can’t come up with anything, let me remind you of this little message from the Universe. This week also kicks off Black History month. A month meant to recognize achievements that, some would argue, misses the mark entirely by segregating black achievements into their own month rather than acknowledging a collective, united and shared history. We have created a space that further separates rather than includes. There is SO much left to do. Let’s get to the business of doing it! From inside the four walls of our homes and all the way into our national and global communities. This doesn’t have to feel too big and overwhelming. It can start as small as finding yourself yet again waking to unload the dishwasher and fold the laundry. Instead ask yourself the question “Is there a better way to organize my day that would bring me more joy?” If you have lots of energy in the morning spend it doing what you know you want to get done and let the dishwasher be an end of day “whatever is left in the tank” job.
ON THE MAT we explore a similar idea but in the body. We are in week two of Ustrasana / Camel pose. This week we look at how much mobility the ribs have and how to increase that mobility and/or our consciousness of it. This increased mobility allows us to increase our ability to back bend and, perhaps more importantly, to backbend more evenly and safely.
There are 12 pairs of ribs. A repeated pattern. From first sight just a repetition of a thing. But spend a few minutes getting to know this area and you will never disregard it again. You will likely be surprised at how limited your mobility in the rib cage is but then likely impressed by your ability to turn your mobility on and how useful this mobility is in so many areas, from breathing to seated and standing poses.
ON AND OFF THE MAT this week- let’s make repetition not a punishment but an opportunity! At the very least it will be more fun ;)
With Great Respect and Love,
Nicole
*For those of you who are new to the practice with me “Sadhaka” is a beautiful Sanskrit word to reference a person who is on a prescribed path towards a higher goal- and that my friend is now you! Welcome to a conscious way of moving through your life that will give you tools to change patterns that are no longer serving you and that are keeping you from feeling joy.
