Prairie Lotus 

Generous Time: Slowing Down through Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy

 

It's late afternoon in the early summer. The sky is cloudy and the light is dull. It's not too hot and it's not too cold; good weather for just spacing out. I am out for my daily walk, making my way down back alleys so I can safely drift along, in and out of my thoughts, mentally sifting through the contents and feelings of my day. I like to walk so I can process my thoughts, ponder my work, and chew on

whatever else comes to mind. I am slightly aware of my arms and legs moving, people and cars on the street, but really, I am not noticing much. I am in my head; I am thinking.

 

Then suddenly the clouds part, the sun bursts through and the air becomes still. I see, hear, and feel everything; the warm sun on my face, the sound of my steps on the gravel, the smell of lilacs and the barking of dogs. I am all here feeling my whole self. I am content; complete. My breath is full, my muscles are working hard and my heart is pumping. I notice the littlest details around me but am also able to take it all in. I am mindfully embodied.

 

What stands out the most for me in those moments, when I fall into that place of “witness”, is that time feels generous. My mind is not swirling with busy discursive and reactive thoughts but rather it is settled and quiet. I feel grounded and that I have a whole-body sense of things. I can see and feel the world with gentle open curiosity and notice and accept without judgement or doubt. What is also very remarkable about those moments, is the flashes of insight that can come alive around life's situations. Suddenly fresh solutions are provided around a challenge and I can see now how to make changes. This wisdom feels like it has always been there but now I can tap into it because my body and mind are in union.

 

Being a witness and creating mindful choice in our lives is at the heart of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. During a client-centered, one on one session, combining meditation, breath work, assisted and supported movement with compassionate dialogue, a client is given the chance to experience themselves more fully in the present moment. By knowing ourselves more fully, we not only get to embrace who we are but we also know where to “let go” and create shifts for forward movement in our lives. When we slow down and tune-in, our bodies know what is the right next step to bring us to a more fulfilling and rewarding life. It's time to start listening. As Carl Rogers, father of client-centered therapy and Empathic Listening said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself as I am, then I can change.” This is the intention of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, to offer you that space for embodied awareness and acceptance where you understand yourself better and are given the opportunity to act in ways that are more likely to create the life you want.