Courage and Grace

Yesterday, I spent the day studying with Betsey Downing, one of my first yoga teachers, and one of Anusara Yoga's true gems. It has been both amazing and an honor to have witnessed her evolve both as a yogini and an human being over the course of 15 years.

I wanted to share some of her insights from yesterday...

In the first session of the day which highlighted backbends, Betsey spoke of the origin of the word "courage," which is derived from the French word "coeur," or heart. Courage invites us to be our most authentic self...

"Yoga is living with virtuosity and being your authentic self...

Anusara means to be in the flow of your own essence...

Courage means you are able to lead with your heart...

We need to re-commit to practices that make us grounded and whole...

If you consider a golf ball, the outside or exterior is hard - and it is representative of our ego. But the inside is bouncy, and the center is surrounded by rubber bands. Our Light, our essence, is wrapped up by our insecurities and our fears, like the rubber bands. Yoga loosens and starts unwrapping those bands [or ties that bind!].

Courage is stepping out into the unknown.

The courage of the heart is to be willing to reveal who we are and to be honest with what is going on inside of ourselves...

Do you want to be right - or do you want to be happy?

Yoga studios are harmonious when people are willing to do their inner work...

Whenever you act from your heart, you're making a difference.

It takes courage to listen to your heart and not do yoga and push through pain when you want to..."

Betsey wove her theme beautifully as we worked through a number of backbends in a wonderfully paced sequence. There was so much more she shared that I will be pondering for a long time to come!

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