Yoga Clinic 7: Karma Yoga

When you are feeling powerless

Welcome to another session of Yoga Clinic, and a special welcome to all the new subscribers! I’m so glad to have you here.

Yoga Clinic is a space I created to teach yoga classes that bring mindfulness to each and every asana (posture), while incorporating yogic principles of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth) and svadhyaya (self-inquiry).

As its name suggests, my aim with these classes is to help you heal and (re)connect with yourself. As I offer various adaptation to yoga postures, or “stages of flexibility,” these classes are particularly suitable for the complete beginner, those who are curious about yoga but for some reason are convinced that they are “not flexible enough,” and those who are limited by, or recovering from a physical injury. You can read more about how these classes work here.

Except this week, a physical discomfort humbles me to take a pause. Instead of pushing through, and fighting with this discomfort, I have decided to listen to my body and flow with what is. Which is, incidentally, the most important lesson I can teach you as a yoga teacher: to ALWAYS listen, and respect your body!

My body today is telling me to rest, and reflect. So this is what I do in the following video, where I get a little emotional (forgive me) as I speak about a yogic concept that I’m very passionate about: Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga has nothing to do with impressive yoga postures, but everything to do with our daily actions and interactions with others. And the good news is: Everybody can practice this! Especially now, when it is so tempting to feel powerless and without hope.

You matter, and you are much more powerful than you think!

And on that note, I am actively thinking of how I can be a (gentle) force of some positivity in our troubled world.

So here is an idea…

What say you to a monthly check-in over Zoom, where we can extend kindness to each other? I can lead this check-in with a gentle breathing practice and/or a five-minute even gentler stretching, after which we can simply share our challenges and hold space for each other. We can share a favourite poem/ piece of writing, and anything else that brings joy into our lives. I have to develop this concept a little more as I want to keep this a safe space. But in the meanwhile, please let me know in the comment section below if you would be interested in something like this.

And speaking of gratitude, I want to thank the always generous

Jane Ratcliffe

who asked me to do the Beyonder Questioner with the enticing title “Greedy with Hope.” Besides interviewing some of the greatest writers, Jane also writes beautifully and vulnerably about her own challenges navigating this world. Just this morning I read this breathtaking essay on her relationship with the dark. I highly recommend you read it, and subscribe to her newsletter if you haven’t subscribed yet.

This morning my wonderful friend (whom I haven’t yet met in person, but seem to know so well)

Tiffany Chu

brought me to tears with the following note:

Tiffany and I connected over an essay I wrote about belonging (or not belonging) to one identity group, and seem to speak the same language! Her essay on “Platform Politics and the Luxury of Moral Purity” is just one example of how she always makes me think.

And

Jeannie Ewing

and I had the most inspiring, uplifting chat over WhatsApp, discovering how much we share in common, and wish to share with the world.

This is what I love the most about Substack: the connections we make, the ways in which we can challenge each other to think more broadly and creatively, and — the ways in which we can be there for each other with a kind word.

This is the essence of karma yoga. You don’t need to be a flexible “yogi” to do that. You already are doing being it.

To keep the good karma going, you can always heart, comment, share and subscribe to The Art of Lite Living and help me get in front of more people.

Sending much love,

Imola

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