sara avant stover just emailed me personally! first blogged about her here over a month ago. since then i have had time to stalk her website and become inspired. sara is a genuine lady who wants to teach others the bits of knowledge she has gained over the years from her own teachers. her story is a good one, and i encourage you to read about her. she'll make you want to take a yoga class, that's for sure! i find that i breathe a little easier after reading something she has written. now, i share with you. enjoy. xoDear Marli,
I've had times in my life where my heart hurts so much that it literally feels like it's breaking. You've had these moments, too, I'm sure. They usually come in the midst loss (a death, break-up, big life change, or watching a loved one suffer). These are important moments to stay present for.Whenever I hit a rough patch in life, I find that the the best time to go into these painful emotions is at night when I climb into bed and can seek refuge under the covers.There, I'm alone and can truly let go.The to-do's of my day have passed and my body softens into the sheets. In the darkness I can feel the tissues of my heart literally aching. Sometimes, depending upon the degree of the loss or betrayal, I wonder if I will ever live through the pain. But always, the intensity of the storm does ease. The cries grow quiet, and the residual vulnerability only leaves softness. "Ah hah!" I realize. This has been a process of my heart OPENING. Sadness often opens the door into compassion and love--first for yourself, and then for others.This is a beautiful and wondrous thing. On the other hand, I've had times in my life whereI feel pain from disconnection--from NOT feeling my heart. THE PAIN OF DISCONNECTION IS BY FAR THE GREATEST. Therefore, the #1 secret to living a happy and fulfilling life is to live from your heart! No matter what. This is a capacity that we all have. But we need to practice it continuously to truly tap into it. Otherwise, we never know just how big our love really is.
I've had times in my life where my heart hurts so much that it literally feels like it's breaking. You've had these moments, too, I'm sure. They usually come in the midst loss (a death, break-up, big life change, or watching a loved one suffer). These are important moments to stay present for.Whenever I hit a rough patch in life, I find that the the best time to go into these painful emotions is at night when I climb into bed and can seek refuge under the covers.There, I'm alone and can truly let go.The to-do's of my day have passed and my body softens into the sheets. In the darkness I can feel the tissues of my heart literally aching. Sometimes, depending upon the degree of the loss or betrayal, I wonder if I will ever live through the pain. But always, the intensity of the storm does ease. The cries grow quiet, and the residual vulnerability only leaves softness. "Ah hah!" I realize. This has been a process of my heart OPENING. Sadness often opens the door into compassion and love--first for yourself, and then for others.This is a beautiful and wondrous thing. On the other hand, I've had times in my life whereI feel pain from disconnection--from NOT feeling my heart. THE PAIN OF DISCONNECTION IS BY FAR THE GREATEST. Therefore, the #1 secret to living a happy and fulfilling life is to live from your heart! No matter what. This is a capacity that we all have. But we need to practice it continuously to truly tap into it. Otherwise, we never know just how big our love really is.
Here's an exercise:
1. Wherever you are right now, inhale and feel yourbreath move over the front of your heart and downinto your belly.
2. Do that several more times.
3. Notice what you feel as your breath passes overyour heart. Tightness? Warmth? Space? Nothing at all?
4. For the rest of the day, give attention to yourheart and emotions. Ask yourself, what am I feelingnow? And now? Give a name to it. Is it giddiness,anxiety, numbness, fear, what?
5. Then breathe into your heart, noticing how it can embrace WHATEVER IS THERE.
1. Wherever you are right now, inhale and feel yourbreath move over the front of your heart and downinto your belly.
2. Do that several more times.
3. Notice what you feel as your breath passes overyour heart. Tightness? Warmth? Space? Nothing at all?
4. For the rest of the day, give attention to yourheart and emotions. Ask yourself, what am I feelingnow? And now? Give a name to it. Is it giddiness,anxiety, numbness, fear, what?
5. Then breathe into your heart, noticing how it can embrace WHATEVER IS THERE.
NOTE: This practice is most potent during moments when you DON'T want to feel and would prefer to check out...So stay with it.
Feel free to let me know how it goes!
To your happiness,
Sara
Sara
note: ha! she really didn't just send that to me. but, i gotcha didn't i? she sends mass emails out to people who want them. i registered for this. and you can too! sign up here and get insipired. =)
5 comments:
love the re-vamped blog! soooo jealous!
she's amazing! so wise... i needed this advice, thank you!
thanks nat! i'm sure you've noticed that i have been inspired lately. so i decided my blog needed to look how i felt. still working on it though! hope all is well with you.
olivia - glad you liked it. she really is, isn't she?
i don't care if it was too you personally or not, it was amazing that. i love that--the idea of breath passing over the hear. i think i'm gonna have to sign up for the mass list!
thank you so much for lovely comment--it brightened my day. i can't wait to explore your blog some more!
I love your blog! and I'm now truly inspired to check out more of Sara's blogs, thank you!
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