Self Compassion

"Having compassion for yourself means that you honor and accept your humanness."
-Kristen Neff

This week's classes will focus on compassion for self. As we begin a new year and make new promises and resolutions, let's look at how we can do so with self-compassion. I've heard from many friends lately about anxiety- how it's impacting them and their children. I had a conversation with my husband on vacation last week about the traits we see in our children that remind us of ourselves. I listened as my daughter replayed a scenario over and over. She didn't want anything from me other than for me to listen to her process as she worked out a situation in which she wished she would have responded differently. I was reminded of how many times I've done the same and how much we live in our own thoughts. And no matter what anyone else says, if we're stuck there, it's difficult to get out. So how do we begin to change our conversations with ourselves? What tools can I teach my daughter, and sons, to help them the next time they are stuck in replay mode? 

This week on the mat we'll start with "noticing". Noticing our emotions, noticing the way we speak to ourselves, and noticing how our body feels when our mind tells it different things. Can we notice how our body feels in a pose and begin to re-work the conversations in our head to let go of judgement? Can we let go of the expectation of how our yoga class will go, or how our day will go, or what may possibly happen? Can we come to class, to our interactions this week, without being in competition with ourselves? Forget competition with those around us, how often are we our own biggest competitors? 

So join me this week on the mat or in your home practice, by noticing. No judgement, no expectations, no competition. Just an openness to listen to your mind body connection and work towards a place of compassion for your self!