When the gentleness between you hardens
And you fall out of your belonging with each other,
May the depths you have reached hold you still.

When no true word can be said, or heard,
And you mirror each other in the script of hurt,
When even the silence has become raw and torn,
May you hear again an echo of your first music.

When the weave of affection starts to unravel
And anger begins to sear the ground between you,
Before this weather of grief invites
The black seed of bitterness to find root,
May your souls come to kiss.

Now is the time for one of you to be gracious,
To allow a kindness beyond thought and hurt,
Reach out with sure hands
To take the chalice of your love,
And carry it carefully through this echoless waste
Until this winter pilgrimage leads you
Towards the gateway to spring.

This week's Embody practice:
Embody welcomes 'Blue Yoga' out of Birmingham, Michigan, as our guest yoga studio who is blessing us with a practice.

Their mission is:

One passion. One practice. One people.
We move, we breathe, we laugh, we set intentions. As a community, we break through barriers. #betterafterblue
​
Be sure to add this to your calendar!!!

Thanks to Jaron for leading our practice last week!

Hello precious ones,

I do hope you are navigating your days with health, hope, and a semblance of happiness! I know times are tough for many so remember you are not alone. Thanks for being part of Embody and taking time to read this newsletter. It is my wish for it to serve you each and every week.

Who among us these days is not experiencing some new or added amount of stress, worry, confusion, anxiety?... the list could continue. Probably no one unless you live in a cave, monastery, or on a private island. So if that, in fact, is true for most, let's focus on the solutions. What emotions and ways of being would be preferable to you? How about peace of mind and an overall sense of calm, centered groundedness? Sounds pretty sweet to me. In my personal practices, that is what I strive for each day. Am I there all the time, even most of the time... nope. But there are moments; sweet pockets of awareness that is only in the present & that is magic. The sweet spot where all seems like it not only will be okay but it IS better than okay. 

Mindfulness, in its basic sense, is being in the present moment without judgment. There is no guilt, shame, regret, or bitterness that can often spring up when ruminating on the past. The future is free of anxiety, what if, or what is going to happen to me. This is a powerful state of being.

The benefits of mindfulness are vast. You can lower your blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and increase levels of patience, creativity, and energy just to name a few.

Resilience is simply grit. It's not giving up or shutting down in the face of adversity or struggle. When you are resilient you know you won't shatter. Life cannot paralyze you or put you into a deer in headlights moment. 

Mindfulness and resilience are a powerful combination.  They are like a muscle that needs to be worked regularly to keep healthy, strong, and functional.  There is a dedication involved; a commitment to your own health and wellbeing. And it's an almost foolproof guarantee that when you take action you will feel more powerful, in control and able to regain personal agency over your life. In short, you will be the author of your life, not the victim of your circumstance. Sound good?

Join me this week for our weekly gathering on Embody's facebook page. Our practice will offer tools to help enhance your mindfulness and resilience. I hope you can join me. 

Health, happiness, &  community,
Dana

Meet our new community partners in Arizona - Hushabye Nursery