Self-love is self-understanding
When I teach class each week, it is important to me to be authentic and speak from the heart. I typically draw inspiration for my class themes based on what’s happening in my own life, my personal practice, and svadhyaya (self-study). This week, I have been struggling with feeling unproductive, uninspired, and a bit lost. I decided to reflect back on the reason I became a yoga teacher in the first place: to share my honest experiences and help others accept, understand, and love themselves completely, flaws and all.
The purpose of yoga (and life) is not to do everything perfectly. It’s not about the shapes that we make with our bodies or our personal achievements. We are not what we have or what we can do. Humans are messy and complicated. We don’t always need to be the best versions of ourselves because we simply cannot always be.
What we can do is pay attention. Our minds are very powerful and often try to protect us from feeling unpleasant emotions or coming to terms with uncomfortable truths. But deep within ourselves, our personal experiences and genealogical history create unconscious blueprints for the way we think, feel, and behave. Because we are so great at deluding ourselves, we typically first feel the impact of negative energy in our bodies — and, often, we are so used to feeling this tension that we don’t understand how much we carry with us every day.
Inner peace cannot be found in external sources, such as material possessions, substances, loved ones, or creative endeavors. These things enrich our lives but can leave us at any moment. If we do not take care of ourselves, we have nothing. We must uncover our many layers, learn to see what’s there, and let go of what is no longer serving us.
This begins with sitting in stillness and listening, which can be uncomfortable. Because meditation draws attention to everything we push down to survive. It can show us our deepest insecurities, fears, and pain. However, observing what's happening within us is what gives us the power to release. And, the more we release, the more we can understand our intrinsic values to build the best version of ourselves.
The opposite of love is indifference, and this is also true of self-love. We must feel the lows to be able to feel the highs.
Wherever you’re at today, know that it’s okay to be just that. Take a moment to sit in stillness. Notice what comes up. With each inhale, invite clarity and healing. Each exhale allows the mind and body to relax. You are imperfect, you are safe, and you are complete. Everything else will fall into place.
Class playlist:
Love + light,
Lex
