“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” ~Pema Chödrön

I’ve never been short on things to say in this world.  Just ask my husband, Ben. 🙃

But lately, I’ve had trouble understanding my feelings enough to express them. Post-COVID brain fog may be adding confusion, but more likely, it’s the wide range of emotions I’m experiencing that have left me speechless.

What I do know is that life feels precious and fragile right now.

Spring is a tumultuous and poignant time in our household. There are moments to celebrate like Mother’s Day, my birthday, and the birth of both of my “babies”, Mason and Ellis. But we’ve experienced some heartbreaking losses during this time too. And this year, our sweet, furry, four-legged love, Hazy, took her last breath.

Hazy had a long, adventurous, joy-filled life and she left this world in her own time surrounded by the whole family. Although we are sad, we wouldn’t have changed a thing about her departure.

But, it’s still a loss and requires space and time…and ritual to move through and process.

I’m not sharing any of this in search of sympathy…or celebration, for that matter.

I’m instead showing up in this honest, vulnerable way because I strongly value transparency and authenticity.

Blowing sunshine has never been my jam.  And in a world that has become oriented toward showing just its polished, shiny side, I believe it’s more important than ever to normalize the ups and downs we all experience on this journey of life.

By sharing my messy, unpolished self, I hope you feel safe enough to show up and let yourself be seen no matter what is unfolding in your world.

Our current culture that teaches us to seek happiness as a goal or a destination.  The practice of yoga and mindfulness instead teach us to accept wherever and whomever we are in the moment. Recognizing that most of the things that make us anxious or depressed are not right now but behind us or in the future. The practice of linking breath and movement brings us into the present moment so we can see that, right now, we may be experiencing one of many emotions but like the weather, it will change.

Those that have joined me for yoga, whether in-person, online or on retreat, know that there is room for both laughter and tears in my class; that all moods and emotions are welcome.

I’m honored to hold space and support for the whole beautiful, chaotic, messy, magnificent experience this life brings. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness the shifts that happen in class.

So no matter how you are feeling right now; no matter what story is playing out in your life, I invite you to make time for self-care.

I’d love to hold space for you to move and breathe. Together we’ll place two feet at the top of the mat, take a deep breath, and remember that we are the sky and the rest is just the weather.

love,

Tener

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Photo by Łukasz Łada on Unsplash