It has been so heart warming to welcome so many of our people back in the studio.
And the changes between last month and this have been BIG for many of us.
Full time working parents feel generally thankful to have their workdays less truncated with kids needs.
Those not needing to care for kids feel just so happy to get their proper social life back. It’s wonderful to be able to book a restaurant, a trip, even a plane ride. And don’t we all now how friends are just sooo important for mental health.
Others of us haven’t noticed a huge difference. Lot of retirees are still enjoying outdoor fitness, and a healthy lifestyle, similar to before. All those great walks and activities that bolster positive patterns of health for longevity.
A few mums in unpaid jobs, working around the family, are feeling left behind. More husbands now leaving home to go to work, kids no longer needing home school assistance. The meaning and sense of purpose that felt large over the last few months feels diminished. Some feel left in that uncomfortable space of …. what’s next for me?
Space can feel good. A chance to breath. Space can feel awkward, say, when unresolved questions want answers. Confession: I am a naturally busy person who finds stillness challenging.
I love teaching yoga….. Go figure 🙂
I love teaching yoga….. Go figure 🙂
And one thing that many are noticing as their lives ramp up, is of the yearning to MAINTAIN THE SPACE THAT WAS CREATED while inside the lockdown bubble.
Making SPACE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CONTENTMENT. The word Sukha in the yoga talk, speaks to space.
The first half, su means happiness, pleasure and ease.
The second part, kha is a general term for space. Originally meant to mean an opening like a canal or a hole, kha, in later Sanskrit also means “sky,” “ether,” or “space.”
I love how the ESSENCE OF HAPPINESS is about having SPACIOUSNESS.
Kha can be considered as a spatial source trough which things come to be experienced. IT FEELS MAGICAL. Kha can also evoke the cavity of the heart, as a mystic space where your eternal essence may be truly felt. It’s deliciously gratifying stuff.
(To opposite of sukha is duhkha, and that is about less space. Duhkha means suffering, pain, discomfort and unease. This is about not having enough space. When spaciousness is not present, compression is felt. It’s really very simple. WHEN WE FEEL SQUISHED WE FEEL STRESSED.
So lockdown in its way, bought many of us a fresh sort of sukha. It gave us the good sort of kha. It offered us spaciousness. No need to get to the mall, chauffeur the kids or over cram our social calendar.
Why Is Space Vital to our Happiness?
Space ALLOWS FOR CONTEMPLATION (I know so many of you have made life changing decisions over lockdown. There is talk of the great resignation. Microsoft research that revealed that 40 per cent of the workplace globally is considering leaving their jobs.)
We appreciate space as part of our natural rhythms. It’s just exhausting to be ‘on’ all the time.
SPACE ALLOWS YOU TO:
Attune to the yearnings of your heart
Stay out of overwhelm
Make better decisions
Be guided to the direction that feels like part of your soul journey
To live in better alignment with your core beliefs
Stay true to yourself.
Coming out of our lockdown bubble, many of us could do well to maintain those elements of emptiness in our lives. These MOMENTS ARE TO BE CHERISHED and get crammed out when the accelerator pedal goes to full on.
My wish for you all, is that you can stay mindful. Keep your physical health practices up, because you know they give you mental space.
And because your MENTAL SPACIOUSNESS IS VITAL TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINED FEELINGS OF COMFORT AND EASE AND HAPPINESS.
Yoga inherently brings us space.
Mat Pilates is an excellent space giver with it’s slow focussed muscle work.
And check out below for our special aerial restorative offering – the ultimate of spaciousness!
Yours, in sukha,
