Beloved Reader,
The stirrings of spring always give me a lift, how about you? It is such a delight to feel the days lengthening... more daylight, yay! More birds are singing, and any day now those beautiful spring flowers will awaken from their slumbers and show their colourful faces. Freshness and new possibilities abound.
I happen to LOVE detective shows and movies! And I'll tell you why. Serving as a Yoga Therapist feels very much like being a type of detective. I'd say that both professions rely on good observational skills, knowledge, diligence and patience, as well as access to intuition. In order to find solutions for questions and conditions, we need to step out of the way and practise deep listening to the unique individuals and situations in front of us, as they truly are.
I'd like to share the ABC's of good detecting, according to the wisdom of Chief Inspector Barnaby of The Midsomer Murders. (Thank you, Netflix!) These three points cover a lot of ground in life and Yoga. Here they are:
A. Assume Nothing
B. Believe No One
C. Check Everything
A. Assume Nothing.
It is important to release your own likes, dislikes, opinions and habituated ways of thinking. Become open and receptive to what is, or who is, in front of you. Be willing to experience things from an unbiased perspective. Hold space for truth, and have respect for timing; these things cannot be rushed. Investigate, research, ask open-ended questions. You may learn something completely new.
B. Believe No One.
Don't be swayed by others' explanations or agendas, no matter how convincing they seem. Step beyond praise and blame, and withhold judgement until you have properly weighed and digested all the facts. Be willing to examine things from different perspectives. Use your senses wisely and well, and trust them.
C. Check Everything.
Gather all the facts and educate yourself thoroughly about the situation at hand. Consult with a supervisor or respected peers if you need a fresh outlook. Be willing to verify your own "gut feelings" to make sure that they come from truth and not from your own undigested projections.
The Key to Success with the ABC's
You don't have to be a detective or a yoga therapist to have mysteries or issues in front of you that need solutions. Life gives us plenty of these! Above all, stay relaxed and attentive. Here are a few more suggestions that work for me.
Cultivate clear, calm and unbiased presence. The best way I know to get into this zone is through the regulation of breath.
Slow, smooth, gentle and full respiration will calm our minds, relax our bodies, brighten our senses and give us the ability to interrupt any of our reactive patterns.
Once we gentle ourselves in this way, we can begin to untangle our usual jumble of thought patterns and land gently in a zone of spacious mindfulness. And this is always where the magic begins! Once we are quiet enough, intuition can awaken, and revelations will begin to blossom like those beautiful spring flowers that are coming our way very, very soon.
May we all meet and dance together in a field of calm and abiding presence.
Blessings,
Karusia Nirmala
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