Grounded in What Is True
A reminder to listen to our bodies, honor our feelings, and be present in these times.
I like to begin my yoga classes by inviting everyone to acknowledge how they are feeling — all of it, not just the peaceful or pleasant emotions. I do this so that everyone is able to be fully present in their bodies and to honor all parts of themselves. Yoga offers us many tools to support the nervous system: breathwork, meditation, movement, and stillness. These practices matter. They can help us regulate, ground, and return to ourselves.
And yet, we cannot simply breathe or meditate our way out of injustice and oppression.
If you are feeling anxious, unfocused, or having difficulty sleeping, you are not broken. You are having a normal response to abnormal circumstances. Rather than questioning whether your nervous system is “dysregulated,” it may be more truthful to recognize that your body is responding exactly as it should to the world as it is. Our bodies are wise. They know when something is not safe. Perhaps the anxiety you are feeling is not a problem to fix, but a signal — a knowing that things are not okay.
All of the mindfulness tools we practice are important to our well being, but they are not the solution to the deeper issue. I can no longer tolerate being in spaces that insist on peace, love, and positivity without acknowledging the state-sanctioned oppression, injustice, and collective trauma that are unfolding around us. Without naming this reality, without honoring our shared humanity and empathy, none of us are truly okay.
And still — even in the midst of all this — we are allowed to experience joy. We can laugh with friends, feel moments of connection, and notice the quiet beauty woven into ordinary life. Joy does not negate grief. Presence does not mean bypassing pain.
We use mindfulness, breath, and movement not to look away, but to stay grounded enough to remain engaged. A recent discussion in one of my Reiki groups was a reminder that these practices help us show up from a place of presence and resolve rather than reactivity — a place where we can respond with clarity, compassion, and courage, rather than becoming overwhelmed or shut down.
This, to me, is the deeper practice.
xo,
Susan
(with a little help from Muse, my AI creative partner)