Stop Judging and Create Space
I have read a few articles today that are really inspiring me to create space in my mind and life. Most people don't even realize the chain of events that make up their life. Things happen and they immediately react without conscious, mindful thought of how what occurred made them feel, why they feel the way they do, and how their corresponding action will impact others. Meditating and doing yoga is an amazing way to quiet the mind and find this space in our lives. With practice, we can begin to notice the things that happen in our lives and be mindful of how it makes us feel. Then, the actions we make in response can move from a reactionary to mindful.
This dialogue ties completely to the yoga by Equinox video posted here. The video features yoga teacher Briohny Kate-Smyth, who has learned to love herself and find balance through yoga. The video has been controversial because some audiences have reacted hastily and claimed that Equinox is trying to use sex to sell. While it is right to question what is presented to you, if you do some research, Briohny's story and her ability to practice yoga so expertly in this video is truly inspiring.
For more information, read "Stop Judging and Read" by Kathryn Budig in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathryn-budig/yoga-briohny-kate-smyth_b_1202653.html.
Here is the introduction to her interview with Briohny. It really resonated with me:
"Equinox posted a short video of the lovely Briohny Kate-Smyth (a past student of mine) practicing awe-inducing asana. About 500,000 hits a few days later, Briohny had gone viral and was receiving a plethora of love and hate notes. I reached out to her knowing this experience must be difficult. She opened up to me about her past, her struggle with an eating disorder, and how her practice, daughter and love for her fiancé brought her to peace with her body. It's a gentle reminder that we are quick to judge when we have no idea where someone else is coming from. People often overcome mountains of adversary to be in a place where they can shine. I'm hoping this look into Briohny's life will help us all remember to look for the beauty where we're so quick to see fault. To be inspired where we want to compare, to love where we want to forget and to feel empowered where we want to shy away."
I wanted to repost the Equinox video and this article for several reasons. First, the video does truly inspire me in my yoga practice and reminds me that even the most fit yogis still struggle daily with self-confidence. Second, I wanted to remind myself and others to find that space between what we experience in life and our reaction. In that pause, insert compassion, understanding, wisdom, and love. Our actions can still cause harm unintentionally, even if we do find space. But, I believe that this ritual will help us become more aware of ourselves and the interconnected nature of humanity and will help us live our values better than if we had reacted without mindfulness.
