Nature’s Wisdom Part 2, “living the practice”
It is in this space that we enter a sacred, potent doorway. Not a space or frequency beyond this world or this life, but in fact a pathway home. Home to nature’s perfect balance, the eternal seed of oneness within. It is from this seed that the Lotus of the heart begins to evolve and bloom. An infinite river of generosity, compassion, willingness, forgiveness and acceptance. As such, many great, prophetic souls from diverse cultures, art forms and practices have shared throughout history, and in the modern day, that this is our greatest triumph. To awaken the heart. First through unyielding love expressed inward towards the self. Then alchemically we transform into beacons of this love frequency, radiating outwards towards the collective. Nature’s vast spectrum and all that unfolds from her unknowable wisdom is the key which opens all gateways to the divine.
I believe we all experience the natural medicine of Yoga in different ways and for different reasons. In fact the relationship to the practice is continuous, an ever flowering connection. Like many things, the level of devotion and faithful commitment applied often reflects the journey and where it leads. Within the seemingly limitless boundaries of nature and the universe, much is inconceivable by the thinking mind. Although great wisdom, intellect and innovation has been and continues to be shared on the subject of Yoga, the same is true for the practice. Thus, all that is required is curiosity, faithful devotion, willingness and of course, humility. If indeed we are extensions of the natural world, made up of the same elemental forces, then returning to the sanctuary of the self, of nature’s wisdom, is harmonious to the collective and to evolution.
It is my opinion that there is no better way to truly love, believe in, and appreciate something than to have it as an ally or supportive presence through transformation, awakening and healing. For me, my love and passion for Yoga, as well as my commitment to teaching it arose from the same. The practice continues to be an anchor, a source of unconditional love and support that leads me back to my unwavering center. Free of condition, expectation and doubt, it is a space where trust and acceptance dissolve woven layers of condition and illusory influence. Although I had been exposed to Yoga, meditation and eastern wisdom since childhood, the following speaks briefly to the doorway I walked through, the moment I could no longer ignore the call, the beginning of my journey as a Yogi.
It was late August 2015. I was living in a funky shack in Playa Hermosa Costa Rica. I had been there for several months after leaving Colorado to escape the reality of lost love and a touch of empty nest as my first son was heading off to college in New York. I was on the tail end of an awful stint with Zika virus and my low back, knees and hips were tense and tangled with inflammation and misalignment to the extent that at times I struggled to stand up straight or get out of bed. There had been torrential rains for what seemed like an eternity. Everything was muddy and soaked with moisture. Mosquitos would swarm and attack wherever I went. Even my greatest love, the ocean, had lost her magnetism. I felt ill, hopeless and broken, as if my world had come to a screeching halt without warning. I thought my time surfing, relaxing on the beach, riding my motorcycle and studying Spanish would help me conjure new direction, insight and outlook for the future. But I was wrong, there was a different plan, an unforeseen doorway.
I recall my initial arrival to Costa Rica, my flight got in late to San Jose airport and I had to stay overnight until a shuttle took me to the coast the next day. I remember struggling to sleep on the cold hard floor and questioning my choices and all that I left behind. I sobbed for quite some time, longing for what was familiar and certain. Missing my home, my routines and most of all, my family. My heart felt empty, but at the time I knew all I could do was trust in this journey to lead me to healing and opportunity. The next day I arrived on the coast and settled into my space, a humble shelter in the jungle a short walk from the ocean. I met some of my neighbors as well as a few Playa Hermosa locals. I felt a little shy, as if I was just another gringo tourist, but I was so grateful to be by the ocean again, her cool caress and powerful majesty. Like returning home after what felt like forever.
At first, the new environment, discoveries and adventure gave me a sense of optimism and motivation. I would surf for hours each day, in between resting on the beach and playing my Ukulele in the shade. At dawn I’d meditate by the sea and offer thanks for the gifts of life. I bought a fun motorcycle as a means to see more of the coast and travel beyond the quaint village I was living in. However as time passed, my shadows began to surface, internal and external experiences began to challenge my sense of peace. Clearly my path to healing would require more than just a surf vacation. Strangely, there must have been at least two or three Yoga centers within walking distance of my house, but at the time I didn’t realize the medicine I needed was right in front of me.
My body was struggling and I asked a friend about a quality body worker in the area who could help me. He suggested a man named Steven who lived quite close to where I was staying. was also a surfer, and happened to be an Ashtanga Yogi who studied with Richard Freeman in Boulder Colorado. He worked on me a few times and there was short lived improvement that would last a couple days until I’d return with the same issues. I was also seeing a chiropractor regularly and between the two healers spending a small fortune with no solid results. Although as I reflect back, I realized Steven had suggested Yoga many times, at the time I didn’t believe it was for me. One day when I was complaining about where to go and what to do with my life, he finally got my attention. He suggested I return to Colorado and practice Yoga in Boulder, every single day, he even suggested multiple classes a day. He said it would heal me, it would bring peace, healing and purpose to my heart. Although it seemed auspicious, I was curious but not convinced.
Although still unclear and frustrated by my lack of clarity and direction. I finally left Costa Rica. I made a few pit stops to connect with family and friends before arriving in Boulder to begin anew. I visited Yoga Pod the next morning and started my journey towards healing and renewal. Although I had done Yoga before many times in fact, it was always more of a novelty or fun thing to do with friends. This time it was different, I was following the call of spirit, divine guidance, and I made it my unyielding purpose to show up and practice every day. Trusting that just as my friend Steven had advised, all would fall into place through daily, intentional practice. Interestingly, things have come full circle. At present I am a senior teacher for Yoga pod, presenting at three different locations throughout Boulder county, and leading teacher trainings. Every stage along the way ripe with purpose and wisdom.
He was absolutely correct. In well under a month, I felt like a different person on every layer of my being. By that point I was practicing twice a day, diving curiously into diverse styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Hot Yoga, and I found what would be my greatest medicinal discovery, Yin Yoga. I felt a connection and sense of home that was and continues to be truly indescribable. I sensed the living intelligence of the practice, the potent energy circulating through me and drawing me ever closer towards authentic joy, vibrant well being and consistent inner peace. It was like falling in love, a new and exciting relationship that I felt truly blessed to have discovered. Over time this powerful transformation inspired me to become a teacher of Yoga and share with the world not only the living practice, but also the unique relationship that I had experienced through my Yoga journey.
For me Yoga remains an anchor, a sanctuary. A permanence within the ever fluctuating tides of life. Indeed the source of my devotion and reverence for the practice is rooted in the belief that Yoga is an extension of Nature’s wisdom, of universal intelligence. Perfectly and continuously available to us as a means to commune with the nectar of the divine. Just as the eight limbed path of Yoga is best defined and/or translated as “to yoke” or “unite”. Nature, the seasons, the elements, the cycles of life, are all a mirror of unquestionable truth. Duality, opposition and polarity are not separate or conflicting at all. In fact the union is the harmonization of these equally essential and contrasting forces working together to support all life. The conditioned mind knows only separation, this or that, light and dark, good or bad, etc. Unwavering devotion to the great tree of Yoga and the living intelligence within it, purifies the mind and opens the heart. Leading us towards the ultimate, the fundamental. Alignment with the infinite aspect, Atma or soul, in which the self returns home. To source, to oneness. - Namaste