From Steadiness to Freedom

     Recently I went to a yoga workshop weekend.  The emphasis was on steadiness and freedom.  “Freedom,” the teacher said, “only comes when there is steadiness.”  Each day he taught us how to find steadiness through alignment of our bodies so we could find freedom of movement in yoga postures.

     One of my favorite poses that we practiced was Supta Padagusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose).  We got into the pose and as we were lying on our backs, we took the right leg up and over to the left and held it there by holding onto a strap around the right foot with the left hand.  We then took our right arm out to the right, then reached over to the left, then out to the right, then over to the left, several times, back and forth.

     As we held to aligned steadiness, continuing to hold the right foot in the strap with the left hand, we discovered more and more freedom in our right shoulder. Soon the right shoulder blade was hugging the yoga mat as much as the left one.

     Freedom to expand and open the right shoulder came from the steadiness of holding the right foot in an aligned position with the left hand.

     As I lay there experiencing the wonderful easy tight challenging openness, I remembered a similar lesson on freedom that comes from steadiness:   "Jesus told the people who had faith in him, 'If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”'  John 8:31-32 (CEV - emphasis mine)

     Just as yoga helps me find freedom in my body’s joints and muscles through steadiness of alignment and consistent practice, so Jesus helps me find freedom in my soul as I hold steady to His mandates and apply them consistently, daily, to my life.  When tough questions bombard me, I go to Him for enlightenment.  I hold steady to His tutelage.  I exercise His precepts over and over again, until they are my own, and from that steady routine of obedience, I find wildly wonderful freedom.  

     As the yoga workshop came to a close a chant was sung in Sanskrit to Ram, the passionate, victorious heart.  Gathered in a semi-circle, everyone sat with eyes closed swaying to music and singing in unison.  It was a sweet melody and I love to sing, but for me the song was off base--Intoning praises to the heart of Ram contradicts Jesus’ teaching of the Greatest Commandment.  So I unobtrusively rolled up my yoga mat and left a bit early.

     By adhering to Christ’s instruction, I possessed freedom to not join in with the yoga crowd and chant the yoga song.  Freedom to leave ahead of time, without shame or apology.  Freedom to be confidently me, a daughter of Most High God.  

“Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus  said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; 

so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ 

Mark 12:28-30 (MSG)

Sun Moon Yoga

      I went to a Level 2 yoga class at a local studio and enjoyed being led through a practice by another teacher.  We did some nice warming up poses, some core strengtheners, some standing poses, a few balances and ended up with some reclining twists.  It was a lovely experience to be able to apply all the techniques I am constantly teaching others to another teacher’s class.  Of course, she didn’t know all the cues and pointers going on in my head, and she probably couldn’t see all the fine tuning I was doing while holding poses like Side Angle and Warrior II, Tree and Half Moon.  After class she apologized for not making the class challenging enough.  I had to reassure her that I was thoroughly challenged.  For to me, a Level 2 class is not about the difficulty of the poses but the level of awareness that is brought to each asana.  During her class I had been thoroughly attentive to my body—to its tensions, its weaknesses, its holding patterns, its strengths.  I had worked in each posture to bring balance and structure with just the right amount of effort.  I had worked equally on softening some components and strengthening others.   

     In a beginner’s class you will often find people who are applying too much effort.  In a Level 2 class, it may appear that no effort is being applied at all. But don’t be fooled by appearances. All the work is going on in the deep places where effort meets ease and work meets rest, where the art of balancing the opposing tension of opposites is being learned.  

     Young and old, male and female, child and adult, leader and follower--we're all learning to balance the opposing tensions in our lives.  God has established these ongoing, perpetual rhythms.  The tide comes in - the tide goes out; the sun rises - the sun sets; the rain falls - the sun shines; someone is born - someone dies; we inhale - we exhale.  Day after day we are confronted with those who fill us with joy, those who annoy us; those who say too much, those who say too little; those who are too personal, those who are impersonal.  Yet we are given instructions that the two shall become one; children obey your parents; fathers do not exasperate your children; husbands love your wives; wives respect your husbands; submit one to another; love your neighbor.  All these instructions presuppose that people must be in our lives for a good reason.  Could it be that they are there to teach us this art of balancing opposing tensions of opposites?

     Joy-sorrow; pride-disappointment; work-rest; effort-ease; stretching-contracting; sun-moon.   Ha-tha Yoga:  Finding balance in rhythms of life's relationships.

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. 

Psalm 74:16 (NIV)  

Time for New Eyes

Last week I got in my car without my sunglasses, so I looked in the glove compartment for favorite spare pair, my first RayBans that I’ve had the good fortune of holding onto for 12 years.  I remember when I first put those brown RayBans over my eyes the very first time… 

Suddenly, I could see in sunshine bright  like never before.

To my horror, when I pulled lose-proof brown spare pair out of the glove compartment last Tuesday, I discovered the right lens smashed…  

I heard the Lord speak to me in the way only He can do:  

"I'm going to give you a new way of seeing."   

Now, to me, that’s lense-smashing good news much more valuable than some RayBans.  

So I found another pair of inferior sunglasses stuffed in the back of the glove compartment and went on to my appointment. I met with a consultant and we discussed Time Management.  I was so inspired by her advice and business sense that I went straight to the mall and bought a new clock.  

I got myself a clock that chimes every 15 minutes to the tune of Ave Maria.  Now when I am at my desk, I hear the chime and I pause.   

I place busy hands in prayer position at thinking brow 

with base of thumbs pressing lightly into working mind.   

I close my eyes and breathe.   

It only takes a few seconds and the chimes end, but in those few seconds I have been given a gift:  Time to remember God's hands hold all.  Time to remember each breath His gift.  Time to remember God with me.

My new clock is helping me manage time instead of lack of time managing me.  Days are longer and working day ends sooner.  At 8:00pm with the sound of the bells, I straighten my desk, walk out of the office and close the door.  I don't enter again until morning. 

 

I remember hearing a Scripture a long time ago:  Teach me to number my days.  

Days are made of numbered hours.  Hours of minutes, minutes of moments.  

Suddenly, thanks to Ava Maria time keeper, 

I have a new way of seeing those passing numbered moments.

Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; 

let me know how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4

Sacred Space

Last week I harbored at Sacred Heart Monastery and the Benedictine Sister's Retreat Center in Cullman, AL.  My purpose in going was to seek out a new location for New Day Yoga's 500 Hour Teacher Training.  A business trip.  I'd been to the monastery before on personal retreats and knew the peace of the space, knew I'd be blessed by the quiet, the trees, the labrynth, the memorial spot of all the sisters laid to eternal rest.  So after a silent dinner meal at my own table for one, I set out to visit some of my favorite spots and to check out the new additions to the old facility.

My first stop was the new retreat chapel...

Breath-giving, heart-soothing space.  Six long and tall stained-glass windows greeted with softly fading, evening light.  Two glass saints framed either side of the central alter holding lit candle and Holy of Holies.  Two saints drawing near in worship and community.

Now I, third saint, entered the prayer.

Four other stained-glass pieces, messaging life's seasons, surrounded the sanctuary: 
     Dogwood blossoms of Spring spoke, "Listen, My Daughter."
          Golden apples of Summer declared, "Seek God."
               Falling leaves of Autumn reminded, "Pray and Work."
                    Dancing snowflakes of Winter sang, "Receive Me, O Lord."

Daughter of God took a seat to listen... and Father God spoke.

Finally, after many years of "holding it all together,"

          a breaking
                               through.

Gasps for breath
cries of angst
tears of weariness
poured.
Confessions of inadaquacy
relentless torment
fearful hopelessness
pooled.


Listening Daughter chose not to stifle the unsightly Godly emotions; instead she rode them, wave after purifying wave.

Alone.  With God.  In Sacred Space.