What is well-being? Is this a luxury or a human right? Do we live stressful lives and then pray for them to be different? What does it take to feel like we have successfully taken care of ourselves?
Well-be·ing /ˈˌwel ˈˌbēiNG/ noun noun: wellbeing
- the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
The yogic teachings speak of the journey towards happiness as one that draws us within, to tap into the wellspring of inner happiness. But what if you can’t find it? What if the odds are stacked against you and happiness only seems to be on the outside or only available to some? What if the world we live in promotes the idea that you can buy, steal and market happiness from external resources? Not so much a “what if.” Welcome to the obstacle course that, for some reason, is the game of this life.
It is because of this, that I dedicate myself to what I hope is a lifelong practice of self discovery and self inquiry. I have immersed myself in the yogic path, in some part, to nearly force myself to infuse these practices into every area of my life. Not just a class here and there, but a way to fully commit to my own healing and to then be of service based on that work. It’s not commonly a practice that you read and study from books and then offer to others. It’s from personal exploration where we confront the inner puzzle that we all have on some level.
And choosing a yogic path doesn’t mean that my life is leisurely and chill. I’m very engaged with the work that I do, often most hours of the day and I feel energized by it. There are definitely some days where the pace of my day would seem out of balance: the lack of water or food that makes an unintentional intermittent fasting day, or the 10-14 hour days or teaching and working could sound too much. So I do my best to catch that and then remember that I have the tools to discern what is my homeostasis. And homeostasis is different for everyone depending on what source we tap into. If our source is a depleting one, like news, fast food and energy zappers, then we will deplete sooner. If we learn to lean into ones that recharge like Pranayama and meditation, plant-based diets, then we recharge.
I believe we are all meant to thrive, but we aren’t all given access and live in a deeply grooved system of oppression and violence. I often see harm perpetuated due to the lack of reasonable education and dignified resources. And it’s not just money that causes lack of education and resources, it’s our general ignorance since days of old. Some of the wealthiest people live the most toxic and burdened lives due to their relationship with money and things. To thrive is to have learned to dance with life’s pleasures and pains, not being seduced by them but being educated and awakened by them. To thrive is to have learned to self-regulate rather than be consumed by self-interest. To thrive is to do just enough to support oneself while being motivated to help others.
June is a big month with many things to celebrate and recognize such as Black Lives Matter and Pride Month. There is much joy that we can celebrate for sure, but this comes at the hands of a history of deep human ignorance and crimes against humanity. Blood and tears soil the ground from which new life and new generations have grown from. We often forget that which in some ways is good, but in other ways threatens a repeat…which it has. Working to bring justice in a world that should be smart enough to support love and compassion instead of spending nearly 2 trillion dollars worldwide on military spending, feels impossible.
But this is what we have, this is the direction we move in. Somehow we manage. The wars and destruction have ruined countless lives, and at other times, have created bonds that are stronger because of it. So I’ve learned not to hate it, but to recognize it and understand that this is a result of something deeply rooted in the human experience. And the 2,500 to 5,000 year long practice of yoga speaks to this. For that, I am grateful to immerse myself in these teachings and so grateful to be more than doubling the BIPOC Yoga Teacher community by co-leading Integral Yoga’s first BIPOC YTT. I am honored and excited to witness change. Thank you for being with me on this path.