”Love says ‘I am everything.’ Wisdom says ‘I am nothing.’ Between these two my life flows.”
– Jack Kornfield

I read that a long time ago, and it stuck with me.

Yoga and Buddhism are two streams that flow into the whole of my life. For me, yoga imparts love, and Buddhism imparts profound wisdom.

And the river is everything that encompasses who I am…

Wife, daughter, mother, teacher, aunt, friend… and now, nonna (grandma)! WTF! 🙂

 

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Yoga was my first love.

Back in 2001 when I discovered it, I knew it would be a forever journey, changing and informing my life every day. It truly is the language of the body, my body.

Each morning when I arrive on the mat, that’s my designated space to move in ways that support me, physically and mentally.

At times it’s through vigorous movements, challenging asanas, jumping exercises, and inversions.

Sometimes it’s working with a specific category of postures, like standing poses or twists.

Other times it’s working with functional movements, using therabands or weights to connect with the shapes of my body in a different way. And sometimes it’s just being still: “striking a pose,” as Madonna would say, and staying there for a long time, yin-style.

The physical practice was never enough for me, though.

In the early years of my practice I studied all the expected texts that go hand in hand with yoga: The Yoga Sūtras, The Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and various theories of Ayurvedic medicine.

But still, I felt a disconnect. Those texts didn’t touch my heart. Luckily, many years ago I discovered the wisdom of Buddhism. I don’t see Buddhism as a religion, I see it as a philosophy for life.

 

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For me, Buddhist study is the language of my soul.

Both of these practices of love (yoga) and wisdom (Buddhism) support each other so beautifully, and they are interwoven through every day of my life.

There’s the obvious, of course: Practicing postures and seated meditation. But there is so much more.

My study of Buddhism grew out of the deep work of yoga. Both yoga and Buddhism give us opportunities to study and get curious, two of my favorite things.

These practices teach me how to…

– Be in relationship with myself and others.
– Navigate everyday life with care and quiet strength.
– Remain present in every moment, communing with my body, breath, and mind.

As many of you know, I recently became a grandmother, and I’ve been emotionally supporting my daughter as her husband is away doing a fellowship.

My daughter Dawn will be getting married in September, my son is beginning a new stage of his life as he moves south, my youngest daughter is planning her wedding for 2020, and my 98-year-old mother is struggling with her health.

There are so many facets of life unfolding at the same time.

Equanimity is said to be one of the most sublime emotions the Buddhist practice imparts on us.

Without my anchors of yoga and Buddhism, I would not have the freedom and discernment to maintain a flow of love and compassion in my life. Or to put it simply, just to keep my head above water.

Fueled by my foundational practices, I’m excited to move into the fall and get back to my usual schedule.

I’ll be back to my regular Yoga Synthesis schedule on September 5th.

Check out the links below to sign up for fall classes.

I’ll also be teaching a new meditation mini course this fall, and working on some surprises for next year! Stay tuned. 🙂

With love,
Michele

 

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2019

Mondays…

Meditation at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
7:30am

Mindful Yoga and Meditation at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
9:15am

Wednesdays… 

Commit To Sit online meditation
6:30am

Yin Yoga at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan
3:45pm

Thursdays…

Level 2 Vinyasa at Yoga Synthesis NJ
9:15am