Reflect and Connect

Yoga Off The Mat
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Theme for Summer:

Reflect: The Space Between

I started a practice a few years ago called ‘Simple Saturdays.’ I consciously carve out space mid-day that is unplanned, open, and spacious. It offers the opportunity to do less and appreciate more, or savour the simple joys that are ever-present and overlooked. It has been a fruitful practice, paradoxically because the feeling of abundance comes from less, not more.

This past week, in a yoga session with some wonderful and wise women, we spoke about summer’s invitation to slow down and embody spaciousness. I shared my simple Saturday practice with the group, and others shared ways they held space for the sake of space. My favorite insight was when one student reminded us that the highest realm of Chinese painting is leaving blank spaces. Liubai is a style of painting with black ink on white paper, where the blank space is as meaningful to the image as the content that is painted.

As we design the arc of each day and craft the flow of each week, can we be bold enough to leave unfilled spaces? In doing so, we might just open portals to awe, wonder, presence, imagination, and harmony.

This summer, I have practiced raking, not leaves just yet, but raking my schedule. Every so often, I go through it and pull out a few things. Not because I necessarily want to, but because I know to value spaciousness right now. I know seeing space dissolves the illusion of urgency and rush, and allows for a deeper sense of fulfillment with less, not more.

Connect:

There is clarity without clutter; busyness distracts us from the present moment because our minds are simply too full to notice what is right in front of us. When we are looking at less, we can actually see more. More detail, depth, vibrancy, beauty - all the things that turn seemingly mundane objects or experiences into something magical. What would happen if you took a rake to your schedule, even for just one day, to appreciate the Space between?

  • How can you take some time to create some time?

  • What magic will you find in the unfilled spaces?

  • If you had nothing to do, nowhere to go, for a single afternoon, what would call to you?

  • What does a rose smell like? When was the last time you paused to check?

“True richness doesn’t come from filling every inch, but from balancing presence and absence.”

- Liubai Proverb

Please feel free to continue this conversation with me on our forum under the thread, Reflect and Connect.

From my heart to your heart,

Fiji

P.S. Join me live on Zoom August 22 for a discussion with Rachel Scott about our upcoming Teacher Training. Ask questions and connect! Register HERE.

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Love the first newsletter! Thank you. I first started yoga as a way to get in touch with my inner being. As time went on and I grew to love it, I continue yoga to stay healthy and strong both physically and mentally. It helps me with my anxiety and sleep. It makes me feel energized!

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Great connect letter !
I was first drawn to yoga during a recovery period. Needed to get hold of my true self .
Needed something that would become part of me. 26 years later … I still love rolling out my Matt and
Still excited .

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Agreed! Lovely first email and I enjoy the prompts to reflect. Yoga is a practice of peace and calm for me (even when I’m sweating it out). I first did yoga with my mom as a little kid. No mats, no props, no cute leggings. Just the living room carpet and this book, and we would go through the poses with my siblings as she cued our breathing. She would also read aloud these bedtime meditations that I still use sometimes as visualizations to calm myself or fall asleep. I haven’t thought about these memories in quite a while!

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My Why? Yoga helps me to stay balanced, both in my body and my mind. It brings an attitude of gentleness with myself, that I don’t have naturally, and I choose classes that support me to learn and practise this.

Thank you fir posing this question, Fiji.

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Thank you for the newsletter. Loved it. I first started yoga to be physically stronger and get more in touch with my inner self. Have a more peaceful mind. I’m afraid I have gotten away from that since 2020.
Reading your newsletter this morning made me realize how important that “why” is to my life. I intend to get back to that starting today.

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Love the addition of the monthly newsletter! Thank you! I first tried yoga in the early 90’s and was a “clock watcher”:crazy_face:. Rediscovered it when I was sidelined with a surgery in 2013, with a completely different focus and purpose, and I’ve never looked back, nor do I ever look at the clock anymore when I’m on my mat!!!

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Why I started yoga:

(1) Heath and Wellness

(2) Self-care and healing

(3) increase mobility

(4) encourage ongoing vitality

:slight_smile:

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Fiji, thank you so much for the lovely newsletter. I did yoga many years ago when I had my first son and it was a wonderful experience. Indeed, life went on and I get involved in another kind of physical exercises. I came back to yoga in 2020, online at DYWM. I saw the opportunity to do Yoga Teacher Training at DYWM, not to be a teacher but to learn more about the practice. Yoga is a complete exercise, it put together your spirit, soul and body and it have helped me to be healthier mentally and physically.

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Fiji, what a great idea to initiate some deeper thought as to why we do yoga. DYWM and your teachings especially, have changed my life. When I was young I went to yoga classes to get in touch with myself more, then life happened.
When I needed to feel more grounded, build confidence, accept self later in life, I found DYWM through a friend and haven’t looked back. I look forward to my daily morning practice wherever I am! We’re travelling now in a motorhome and I’m finding some great outdoor spots to connect and I even practice in the cramped motorhome when it rains… always varied because of the options I’ve learned through daily DYWM practice with a variety of instructors. Long story, but my ‘why’ is to start the day feeling grounded and balanced, to build confidence, feel the energy flow and go deeper into myself to accept who I am. Thank you again, Fiji, for your gentle guidance.

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What a wonderful reflection Margaret, I smiled thinking of you practicing in a motorhome! Your why must be very strong!!!

xo
Fiji

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Hi,
I love this new newsletter and the opportunity to reflect and feel more connected to the DYWM community.
I live in the UK and was introduced to you during the first covid lockdown when I could no longer attend a class in person.
I have practiced online with so many of your wonderful yogis and discovered so much more about yoga than I knew before.
I first practiced when I was a newly qualified teacher and one of my colleagues ran an after work season for staff. My WHY then was to de stress after a tough day/week teaching teens. I loved how we moved our bodies in challenging ways and that the buzz I felt was so different from all the gym classes etc I was used to doing. I also loved the focus on breath and meditation we did although I don’t think I realised why I loved it then.
Fast forward 25 years and my WHY now is all about listening to my body, awareness, observation and just being with whatever comes up and being there for myself. My WHY is also that it brings me a deep sense of peace every time I step on my mat.
Thank you Fiji and friends xxx

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Natalie,
What a fruitful journey!! You have also pointed out that our WHY can change as we grow and our own individual lives and needs change!

Thank you for sharing!

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So happy you enjoyed the first of many deep dives into the real nature of ourselves and our practice. I look forward to learning more about your 26 year journey!

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You have an incredible mom, I am so happy to hear she started you out so early!

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An attitude of gentleness is such a beautiful thing to say, I think I will start to use this in my teaching. If we can learn to be gentle with ourselves we can then extend that kindness to others.

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Hello Barbara,

Yes!!! Coming back to our why is always an open invitation. To begin, begin.

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What an honest reflection, and one that I think most of us can relate to!!! I always think that much of the love affair with yoga has to do with timing, we are open to it when we are ready and not a moment before. Sometimes the body breaking down creates that opening too!

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It has been so wonderful to watch your practice grow and to get to know you on this journey!

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Initially I could not recall why I was drawn to yoga. Then I remembered a Rodney Yee AM/PM DVD that I picked up in the Chapters store I worked in years ago, at a time when sleep was difficult. He helped prepare me for my nights. Now I find my yoga practice prepares me for my days! Energy wise. Mood wise. And I reading the previous posts, I was reminded of how big a role yoga played in my recovery from a fractured bone, at a time when a lot of movement was difficult.

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