A Journey of Remembering
Embracing Renewal: The Power of a Morning Practice
First, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who responded to my last blog on Heart Medicine. Your reflections mean so much. Clearly, in these times, we need reminders to return to our deepest selves, to nurture what truly soothes our hearts and souls. It’s this inner nourishment that sustains and reassures us as we navigate these rocky days. Keep those comments coming!
In that same spirit of renewal, I embraced the New Year with a quiet but life-altering intention: to once again begin each day with yoga. Not for trendy outfits that used to draw me (although I still love my Lulus) or picture-perfect poses (God knows those are much harder at my age), but to reconnect with the part of myself often lost in life’s shuffle. It’s about turning inward, finding stillness, and listening to what my body and soul have to say.
Each morning, before the sun rises, I unroll my squishy gray mat in my home studio and start with sun salutations, facing east as the first light spills over the horizon. Sometimes, I follow this with a brisk prana walk outside, usually with just Pongo these winter days. Our older, and sometimes crabby, dog Bruno often prefers staying bundled up under cozy flannel sheets.
These quiet, early hours—just me, my little dog Pongo, my breath, and the waking day—feel magical. But this practice feels different in my 60s. Gone are the days of bouncing back from bad habits. Now, my body insists I pay attention. Inflammation and fatigue creep up faster, and ignoring my body’s signals is no longer an option. Listening is a necessity, not a luxury.
A Journey of Healing: Returning to Ancient Wisdom
A book that recently found its way into my hands reignited my commitment to yoga. The Longevity Formula by Avanti Kumar-Singh, a Western-trained emergency room doctor, chronicles her journey from burnout to healing through the Ayurvedic practices she grew up with in her South Asian culture. Her story deeply resonated with me, a powerful reminder that true wellness often lies in returning to ancient wisdom.
Decades ago, my health collapsed when years of tetracycline overuse for acne (remember 70’s medical culture?) shattered my immune system. This breakdown wasn’t just physical—it became the catalyst that launched me into a deep descent, unraveling me emotionally, spiritually, and physically. That crisis in my early 20s forced me to rethink everything I thought I knew about life and wellness. But healing wasn’t just about restoring my body; I had to tend to profound emotional and spiritual wounds as well.
This journey through darkness ultimately shaped my path as a healing arts professional and ignited a lifelong passion for holistic wellness—honoring the intricate connection between body, mind, and spirit. Returning to yoga feels like coming home—a reunion with something ancient and familiar. It takes me back to my first yoga class decades ago, during that dark chapter when I first glimpsed the quiet, steady flame within me. That moment of awareness changed everything.
Now, stepping onto the mat again, I’m reminded of the humility and beauty in rediscovering that connection. It’s not just movement; it’s a practice of presence, a daily ritual of returning to myself—just like life itself. Like the sunrise after a long night, yoga reminds me that renewal is always possible, that each day offers a chance to realign, to breathe, to begin again.
A President’s Warning: Remembering Carter’s Wisdom
Recently, as I watched the ceremonies for Jimmy Carter’s passing, I reflected on his 1979 “Crisis of Confidence” speech. As a teenager, I didn’t fully grasp its significance. Carter’s bold call for Americans to confront overconsumption, disconnection, and disregard for the greater good was met with criticism, signaling the decline of his presidency. But today, his message feels prophetic.
Carter’s speech was a call to personal accountability—not shame. He urged us to ask, “How did we get here? What can we do differently?” Those questions echo in the crises we face: environmental disasters, the rise of autoimmune diseases, the polarization of our society, the prevalence of chronic illness. These challenges mirror the imbalance in how we treat ourselves and the Earth.
In a culture driven by materialism and superficial values, we numb discomfort, chase external validation, ignore warnings, and press on until something breaks. But true healing—personal and collective—demands that we look deeper, that we realign with what truly sustains us.
Our bodies and the Earth are deeply connected. Neglecting one reflects how we treat the other. Depleting resources, ignoring needs, and taking without giving back—this cycle is unsustainable. But just as the Earth has the capacity to renew, so do we. Every day offers the chance to begin again.
A Call to Listen: Steps Toward Healing
It starts small:
- Listen in. Spend time each day tuning into your body. Whether through yoga, walking, or quiet reflection, notice what your body is telling you—without judgment.
- Release. Let stored energy flow through movement, art, journaling, or talking to someone you trust.
- Reconnect. Spend time in nature. Feel the Earth beneath your feet and let its rhythms remind you of your own.
- Take responsibility. Reflect on your habits. What can you change to honor both your body and the Earth?
This journey isn’t about perfection. It’s about waking up to the wisdom already within us. Both the body and the Earth are sacred. Both call us to listen.
This month, I’m launching Module 7 of my “Mining Inner Wisdom” course: “Accessing the Wisdom of Your Body.” Inspired by this journey, I’ve also written and recorded a song called “I’m Your Vessel”—a soulful anthem honoring the sacredness of our bodies and the privilege of caring for them.
Please join me for a journey inward—to reconnect with and restore yourself.
”I’m your vessel, look at me with tenderness.
Sacred body, temple of your light so blessed.”
—“I’m Your Vessel,” original composition by Carrie and Chris Ishee
The beauty of life is that we can always begin again. One breath, one step, one sun salutation, one act of kindness, one daily doodle at a time—we can reconnect. To ourselves. To the Earth. To the wholeness patiently waiting for us.
