Written by Aviva Tulasi
The holiday spirit is all around us right now. We are bombarded with messages of giving, love, gratitude and family which often overlook the complexity of this time of year. Some look with anticipation for the excitement of the holidays. Some dread the stress of entertaining family members. Some are triggered by the underlying message of consumerism and colonization. Some are facing danger without substantial food or a safe space to call home. Some relive loss. Although there are many vasty different emotional states of being during this time of year, each are important aspects to name and allow to be present.
Life is filled with things that we enjoy, raga, and things that we dislike, dvesha. The turbulence of seeking enjoyment and rejecting aversions keep us in a never ending cycle of desiring, of always wanting something more. Yoga teaches us to recognize our ragas and dveshas so we can be aware of what is driving us. Once we know what drives us, we learn to react with objectivity and embrace all that comes our way.
It is easy to get stuck in the mindset that only pleasurable experiences will lead to internal happiness. But in reality, if we don’t address and accept the unpleasant things, then we are strengthening the raga-dvesha cycle. Swami Dyananda puts this into perspective in the Gita Home Study Volume 4, “People do not know they are doing the same thing when they seek power, name and fame, quietude or whatever.” All is seeking; whether we are grasping to get what we want or pushing what we don’t want away.
Although it is important to connect to the happy moments. Gratitude for life should be independent from the events that happen in life. Gratitude is accepting all that life has to offer whether pleasurable or unpleasant; accepting our true nature just as it is. Acceptance allows one to challenge the raga-dvesha cycle and reduce seeking.
This Season of Giving, let us open our hearts to hold space for all experiences. Surround yourself with loved ones. Take a moment today for Transgender Day of Remembrance. Enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving. Learn about the experiences of Indigenous Peoples and attend a Truthsgiving event. When we take the time to face the real history and bring to the table the good, the bad, the harmful and the happy events that shape our nation can we find real solutions.
The slow pace of Yin Yoga provides another opportunity to practice experiencing gratitude as a form of unconditional contentment. The next Friday Night Yin Yoga is December 2nd @ 6:15 pm EST. Join us In Person or Online as Sam guides us in welcoming the sensations that are present.
Reach out to the Dogwood Team with any questions at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
Bring a friend to a class with discount code YOGAWITHFRIENDS. Share the discount code with someone you think would be interested in joining you for a yoga class. The person will need to create their own Momence account and then they can use the discount code to attend one class for free.
Aviva Chaye Tulasi is a team member at Dogwood Studios. She is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). She applies the teachings of classical yoga to reduce the effects of negative stress and to balance the nervous system. Email Aviva at yogawithtulasi@gmail.com with any questions.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.