Embodiment: Bring Good Intentions to Life

As Russell Edson put it in his poem The Floor, our mental lives play out in “this teetering bulb of dread and dream”. This is a time of year when we flex our unique human gifts of reflecting and projecting, looking for the patterns in our history and wondering what elements may help fulfil our aspirations this year. However, the headspace of dreams (and dread) can be turbulent and unreliable. Without the grounding of the body, the somatic dimension through which we do and feel, our intentions can get lost in our habits and short-term pursuits.
Yoga intrinsically focuses on embodiment, decentering attention from our thoughts and recentering on physical and energetic experiences. This attunement to the actions and feelings of our body influences our moment-to-moment experience (including mood and nervous system regulation). However, it also affects longer-term transformation by providing a stable and adaptable foundation to pursue our goals.

At times when my practice gets sidetracked, and I return to the mat, the most striking reflection is the remembrance, “I’ve missed feeling this.” Yoga takes place in a context of kindness and nonjudgment, giving space for the pleasant and the uncomfortable. It’s not going to be easy, but it can be easeful.

As we move into a new year, amazingly, our 18th year of providing a space for yoga, Chris and I want to say “thank you” for returning to practice with us. We are committing to another five-year lease in our current studio. We intend to continue to be your home for yoga for years to come.

Wishing you good health and contentment this year,

Karen Andersen
E-RYT 500, YACEP, Behavioural Neuroscience Major, SFU