Get it right? Or get connected?

Lovely humans,

As many of you know, I was a competitive gymnast growing up. In gymnastics, you work really hard at certain skills so you can put them in your routines, and there are very specific ways these skills must be performed, in order for them to count for a score. Because of that, I was taught those specific ways. And if I did not perform the skills in that way, or I fell or “messed up” , there were SEVERE punishments. I learned quickly that the only way to be good enough for my coaches, was to do it RIGHT.

Perfect segue into my school life: nothing but straight A’s. If I got a B, I was pretty devastated and ashamed. So…I mostly didn’t. I worked hard to get in all the advanced classes and do them “RIGHT”. That was the only way that I was good enough for myself.

I did this over and over again. As I transitioned into dance - it was about perfecting the choreography, or the fouetté turn. It had some joy and expression, perhaps more so than gymnastics, but only as long as I still did it “right”. I was never the girl who did her own thing. I was always the girl who did the RIGHT thing.

This even carried into yoga, for a while. Must do the pose correctly! Must be able to do the most advanced pose! All of these things added up to me being good enough in my head. All of these things became a means for me to do something right, because that was the only way I could measure my enoughness.

———

Although I gained some amazing skill sets and accolades, I somehow never felt enough. In fact, each “success” of doing it right set the bar higher, to the point where I could never really live up; because I wasn’t getting better at being ME, I was just getting better at these external achievements.

Then, there was a period of time where I would cry during EVERY yoga class I went to. I think this is when I started to realize there was more to life than “rightness”. There had to be.

This was the beginning of me trusting my body.

Now, the hard part here is that yoga teaches us that “you are not your body, you are not your mind”, etc. It teaches us to find our focus (drishti), and to not let any distractions pull us. It teaches us to let our thoughts float by like passing clouds, never holding on to one for too long. It teaches us to stay put during discomfort. It teaches us to detach from our experience. And while this is useful and an important part of the journey - to realize that your physical body doesn’t have to be SO worrisome - it isn’t the whole picture.

It leads to TOLERANCE, but not fullness.

It leads to EQUANIMITY, but not connectedness.

It leads to ACHIEVEMENT, but not creation.

It is masculine. But not feminine.

Instead, when we LISTEN to the body, we see that although we are NOT IT, it is our GUIDE to this physical world. It is our vehicle through this tangible life. And every discomfort, or distraction, or pleasurable moment is offering us something. And being able to connect to those sensations and experiences has us EMBODY our spirit more fully.

This is important, or perhaps ESSENTIAL for ALIVENESS.

AND

It is THE ONLY WAY to actually move through (and let go of) trauma, old patterns, fears, triggers, etc. Because those live IN THE BODY, not the spirit.

So, we could train our minds to detach from the body’s reactions.

OR

We could actually unravel them, and live in alignment with this MAGICAL HUMAN BODY.

You in?

I know I am.

Join me THIS SATURDAY at 1:30 pm for a FREE online workshop. We are feeling into our capacity to connect via the sacral chakra. We will talk, we will laugh (we might cry), we will journal, and (perhaps most importantly) we will connect to the body. We will actually feel the sensations, and learn to speak its language (or at least begin to).

SIGN UP to get the link.

FAQs

Is it FREE?

Yes.

What if I can’t make the live class, can I still participate?

Yes. Sign up still, and you will receive a recording of the live class, when it is over.

I’m scared/embarrassed/ashamed/don’t want to, but I know it’s calling to me.

That’s the beauty of an online class. Set yourself up. Get all cozy with a cup of tea. Take breaks when you need. You could even go on a walk or take a nap. There is no one here saying you HAVE to do it. But if something in you is saying YES, then give it a taste. Let your system feel what’s there for you. And, if you need support - I’m here.

Have more Q’s? Send em my way.

See you tomorrow.

With love,

Jessie