Yoga Etc. (And That’s Okay)
if you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely
- roald dahl
At the beginning of the pandemic, an article made the rounds that provided clarity and comfort at a time where we didn’t know what to make of our feelings. “That discomfort you’re feeling is grief,” wrote the author. It shined a light on a lot of the suffering — or anticipatory suffering — we were experiencing collectively. The article gave me something to hold onto at a time where I couldn’t find my feet. I’ve thought about that piece a lot over the last five months, and there’s a particular line that’s stuck with me ever since I first read it.
“We’re the first generation to have feelings about our feelings,” he wrote. Well then. That hit the nail on the head.
I’ve dedicated so much energy towards shame because I felt something I didn’t think that I was allowed to feel. I’ve suppressed feelings because it’s easier to keep going and pretend they’re not there. And as a result, I’ve become engulfed in a storm of emotions that feels like it will never pass.
The problem is — we’re always looking to quantify how we’re feeling. Prone to explanations, we list reasons for our emotions. We outline scenarios that justify our mood. We convince others and ourselves that it is because something that has happened to us that we feel this way. But that deflects energy away from ourselves and onto something or someone else, which makes it harder for us to process our feelings.
Emotions need a way out. Whether through dance or yoga or painting, there is a myriad of ways to help them move through us. To help me, I’ve started incorporating a small but mighty phrase into my life.
And that’s okay.
These three words stop me before I set off on a long-winded explanation about why I’m sad today. They press pause on the convincing and persuading and negotiating of my feelings. They allow me to feel what I feel. There’s something so powerful in those three words. Together, they help me acknowledge my emotions so that I can physically feel them and then let them move through me.
At any time, but especially in this new world, it’s important to create a safe space for yourself. Find what helps you move through things. How can you build a space of non-judgment? A place where your feelings are welcome as they are, and you don’t need to explain or quantify them. When a seed has a tough time growing, we never judge or try to fix the seed — we fix the environment. Fix your environment. Build your safe space.
Today, I feel uncertain. And that’s okay.
Practice with me
- Tuesday 25th August @ 7.30 am BST
a 60-minute powerful grounding flow to gently wake up the body for the week ahead - Sunday 30th August @ 5 pm BST
a strong + sweaty 60-minute power flow to release tension, get clear, and have a little Sunday Funday
How to join
- respond to this email/send me a text or DM to let me know you’ll be there! (also include any injuries or conditions I should be aware of)
- download Zoom + join the live class here (pw: lbcyoga)
- i’ll be on 15 minutes before we start so that you can get settled and catch up before we begin
- classes are donation-based so please feel free to pay what you can
These are uncertain times and my priority is to provide a space for connection and support. Everyone is welcome to join regardless of what they can pay. If you are in the position to pay for class, you can do so on PayPal here.
Weekly writing prompt
- write about the item of clothing your parent always wears or always wore (10 minutes)
Other musings
- myth-busting: the dread of age 35
- how the pandemic made work + social life more accessible
- antiracism daily: the imperfections of affirmative action do not negate its necessity
- “a big part of my partner being my ally is correcting people when I can’t”
- recipe: handfuls of mint + cilantro with a side of chicken
- 10 black-owned fitness studios offering virtual workouts
- tiktok + the evolution of blackface
- on repeat: rodeo
- miss class this week? catch the audio recording here
stay well + see you on the mat xx
LBC
p.s. if this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here!
