Dear Earthling

I thought I would share one of the most valuable lessons I learned during my teacher training in India. I must add now that there were MANY, this one however held so much weight for me.

A simple phrase consisting of 4 words that changed everything.

“This is your work”.

That’s what my Ashtanga teacher, Abhishek Negi would say to us as he confidently adjusted our bodies to go a little deeper into a pose (asana) , much deeper than I thought I was capable of.

It wasn’t long before a few of us students caught onto the profound value of those words “this is your work”, and for me personally, this simple phrase overflowed into a mindfulness into all aspects of my life.

I became astutely aware of my resistance towards working a little harder or taking myself out of my comfort zone. Aware of my minds constant pursuit of easy, comfortable and cozy, which I know is a normal and natural human behavior, but there it was for me, so apparent, brought out into the open for me to see. I must add here, that these observations were gentle and without judgement.

I started to become aware of the triggers, all those responses that disturbed my state of peace. I noticed habitual behaviors that did not serve me, mindless actions engrained into muscle memory. Everything became so clear.

I realized then that this was my work. This awareness, encouraging me to weed out those reactions, cultivating more tolerance, patience, more forgiveness, more mindfulness, more love, taking full responsibility for myself and my responses to life, my addictions my compulsions, my words. Owning myself completely, all the good and all the bad. The light and the dark.

What is your work? And are you capable of taking full responsibility? Can you do the work?

Are you worth it?

I owe immense gratitude to my Ashtanga teacher, Abhishek Negi, whose guidance left an lasting mark on my soul.

Namaste.

See you all on the mat.

If you are interested in doing yoga please reach out, let’s chat.

Claudia