Return to Love - Online Zoom Yoga Pop Up Retreat

It is said that the Buddha sat in meditation long enough to become aware that certain thoughts led to his freedom and certain thoughts led to his suffering. Often our thoughts of desiring to control the outcome lead to disappointment when things don't manifest as planned. My teacher Rolf taught me that a loving heart provides protection from the suffering caused by unskillful mind states. When our heart opens in love and appreciation, our mind is protected from unskillful states.

How do we come to a state of love and appreciation where we're protected from suffering?  There are two fundamental spiritual practices in the yoga sutras that speak to this - abhyasa which is practice, or putting in the work - and vairagya which is renunciation, or letting go. The intention is to put in the effort and do our best - but also practice detachment from the outcome. This week in Vienna when I expected to see Taylor Swift I had an opportunity to put these spiritual tools into practice, as the plans changed beyond my control. I did my best to arrive in Vienna for the concert - but because I was so deep in my practice, I was okay either way - whether it turned out as I wanted to or if it did not - understanding that whatever happened would happen for my highest good. And now, I find myself travelling to london, England, and organizing a pop up yoga workshop - which never would have happened had I not let go and gone with the flow. If I hadn't been in practice, I may have catastrophized this moment. 

In this yoga class and workshop we'll explore what it means to embody these aspects of yoga - wise effort (abhyasa) and wise concentration (vairagya). We can think of the skills of wise effort and wise concentration as the return to love, and the return to a possibility of an open heart.  When we’re in a contracted mind state we close ourselves off. And when the mind goes quiet, we can listen once again to the whisper of the heart.

Join me online on Saturday, August 17th at 6:00am PST, 9:00am Toronto, 2:00pm London, 6:00pm Dubai for this practice. It is limited to ten participants, so make sure you snag a spot if you want to join!