Exploring Our Inner Weather Forecast

There are times when we look at the sky to check the weather of our lives, and it seems uncertain.  The clouds cover the lights of hope.  The white sprinkles of snow do not let us look at what is in front of us with clarity.  The cold wind freezes our heart desire from moving forward to embrace our future.  All signs seem to tell us it is not worth the fight and our bodies succumb to fear and disappointment.   The strategies to feel better seem useless when encountering the worst of our hopelessness.  In front of all this gloomy forecast, we wonder if the sun will ever rise.  One day, we wake up with the idea and desire to feel better. We seat and breathe in front of the glass window waiting for the sun to salute to us. 
 
We know that when life forecast hit us hard, we are not even hoping to try what have been said would help us feel better.  However, it is not until we decide to share in connection with others that we notice a change for the better.  If talking about our experience is too difficult and overwhelming, maybe we can open our hearts to this new experience called yoga.  Maybe it is time to breathe and open our arms, to be receptive in the middle of our already feelings of vulnerability.  Some students have mentioned memories have come to their minds while practicing yoga helping them find out the reason behind those hard to express feelings; while others have been able to use the yoga practice to embrace their story and connect it to their feelings.  Others have said yoga has helped them be more authentic and to find out who they really are.  Life just begins to make much more sense. 
 
We might want just to sit and breathe and check in with our body. It will give us a wealth of information about how we feel.  We ought to try to allow ourselves to feel our bodies as we breathe and maybe become more in touch with ourselves.  We might find ourselves moving with the flow of the class and enjoying our bodies for the first time.  We might struggle with being present but then experience the guidance of a yoga teacher reminding us just to bring our minds back to the here and now.  We might end the class with a feeling of peacefulness, and we might want to find ways to stretch this good enough feeling throughout the rest of the day. 
 
The sky might still be gray. The snow might still be an obstacle to seeing what is in front of us.  However, we learn not to freeze anymore by utilizing the self-awareness we have already gained.  As we open our arms and breathe, we change the patterns we have created in our bodies as a result of sadness and fear.  We can now hope the sun will always rise.

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