It's Time To Expand

Hello My Friends,

How are you all doing?

I have to say that in many ways, I’ve felt myself held hostage by this election cycle. And while to some extent, it is still playing out, I do feel like a weight has been lifted and my body is ready to expand again.

Over the last couple of months, in order to stay steady and build resilience, I’ve focused on grounding and strength-building practices. This has been keeping my nervous system in check. But it’s not just my nervous system I have to contend with. We are constantly attuning to the people around us - whether that’s in our households, on zoom, the people we pass on the street and in the grocery store, the journalists reporting the news, and the folks posting on our media feeds. And their stress levels affects our stress levels. So if you’re feeling a bit crazy these days, just know that with all of this collective stress flying around, it is warranted!

That said, I am breathing a little easier this week. What about you?

What I’m noticing in my body is a draw towards expansion and here’s why. When things are stressful, we need to preference practices that make us feel safe and until we really cultivate an internalized experience of safety, we’re not super excited about being vulnerable. In the same way an honest conversation about our hopes and dreams can leave us feeling more vulnerable, so can expansive poses like backbends and hip openers. And frankly, over the last couple of months, living in this world has felt vulnerable enough for me. But, I can feel a change coming into my body this week; a desire for more space, more expansion and yes, maybe even more vulnerability! 

If this is resonating with you, join my friend and colleague Molly Vogel and me for a 2-hour zoom workshop this Saturday, November 21st. Through guided meditation, breathwork, and asana we'll explore how activating our parasympathetic nervous system - building stores of relaxation and safety - can lay the groundwork for deep expansion and openings in our body/mind. Together, we'll explore the relationship between your sense of stability and your ability to open and expand.

I hope you’ll join us! For more information, click here.

Much love,

Rachel