Finding Faith in Heaven On Earth
I am power manifesting into light and sound
I am consciousness elevating from the depths of the earth
I am connected to all those that come before me and all those that stand beside me
These are just some of the words that poured out from me, into my journal during the “Spiritually Fly: Master Your Soul” workshop with Faith Hunter.
About 4 years ago I discovered this magical, delicious, coco bean creature. She was one of less than a handful of Black Yogis featured on the cover of Yoga Journal. THREE TIMES! No small feat considering I can only find visual evidence of 10, YJ magazine covers with black, inspirational figures on them. (Please correct, or share with me, if you know otherwise).
So 10 covers out of the many 100′s to 1,000′s of covers since the 70′s and 80′s. That is pretty heartbreaking. There have been a few Asian, Latino and Indian’s on the cover as well. But again Yoga Journal can, and should be doing better. I really hope they figure that out soon.
Image provided by faithhunter.com
I began following Faith’s journey on social media, as many of us do. When I arrived at Yogaville, I championed the cause to have more presenters and visitors of color, represented at the table. Faith Hunter was my #1 presenter on the list to connect with. By year 2 of working at Yogaville, she and I were beginning to interact in the same circles of friends and fellow yoga family. And through the outreach and pranic energy vortex, we were able to get Yama Talent Agency to present her first Spiritually Fly workshop in Spring of 2016. By this point I had only taken her classes in crowds of 100′s and through her interactive you tube and faithhunter.com videos - http://faithhunter.com/faith/videos/.
In December of 2015, I joined Faith at Embrace Yoga DC, for an Assist, Hands On Adjustment and Thai yoga teacher training. I was the only non Spiritually Fly TT (teacher trainee) in the room. But Faith, couldn’t have made me feel MORE welcome. She was graceful, knowledgeable and funny. Her energy is like a firecracker that you just want to light up again and again.
I got more in that 3 days of training, about the physical body and my own deepest desires about how I wanted to present myself as a yoga teacher then all my training combined up to that point. She just brought out….the me that had been hiding under all that fear. Under all that preconceived notion of how I “thought” I should be presenting my classes. And instead, I began to teach straight from the heart. Straight from Love…. I began to transform my personal Hatha practice into something more expansive, wide and flowing. I began to train myself to be vulnerable and only teach, and speak just how I was feeling in that moment, when I walk into a classroom. Or how I wake up that day….It was profound.
At that same time, I was winding down a 17 year relationship with my ex husband. Faith may not be aware of this part of my story. Or maybe I told her about these particular series of events, last year when we drove back to C’ville together, I am not sure. But less than 2 weeks after that training, my ex would officially move out of our shared living space. We would officially begin the legal separation proceedings. It had been, what felt like a lifetime coming. A lifetime of co-dependency, anger, no trust and grief. Of course there was love. Much love throughout our time spent in each others physical presence. But we never fully connected spiritually, or energetically. When I look back, that was always missing. And my heart could innately feel that.
I thank Faith from the bottom of my heart, b/c without that strength and another layer of armor for me to release him, I may still be in that toxic partnership. We never really gave each other the space to be who we really are.
Not ready to fully open up and share that jar quite yet….
So after spending the last 3 days with Faith, at Yogaville, I can say I am grateful once more. She came with love in her heart. She welcomed me with a bag full of luscious goodies and gifts, b/c hey, that’s just the kind of sister she is. I was actually quite sick on that first day of the workshop as the host of the event. I was coming down with a serious head cold and bronchial infection, which I am still battling off nearly a week later. It was apparent I wasn’t 100%. Faith was really mindful and easy. My staff at Yogaville, as all the staff always are, were generous and supportive throughout the weekend.
A gift from Faith. Only Strong Warriors can ROCK THIS WITH CONFIDENCE! (Missing a beautiful Spiritually Fly top.) Lotion and bath bombs from Nubian Heritage - https://www.nubianheritage.com/
Day 2 we did a vigorous and fiery morning practice. She filled our ears with statements like “Why create added pressure and layers. Unless giving yourself time and filling yourself up!” or “Give 9 minutes of gratitude for your day every time you hit the snooze button.” The heat was really rising within me. But surprisingly as sick as I looked and felt prior to going into the class, the heart openings and sweat were clearing my passage ways, and making room for clarity in my thoughts. As only Faith can….
As the Satsang (gathering of like minded individuals in community), speaker, she spoke on Being In Service. She quoted from the Bhagavad Gita - ancient vedic texts that lead us in the practice of yoga like the bible. “Let the fruits of our action be your guide.” Kudos to one of the most well respected and sought after yoga teachers in the country.
She spoke of Yogaville as home, and said she would indeed be returning to this heaven on earth sanctuary very soon. The last day, we were able to enjoy lunch with several other sisters and like minded Goddessess who are joining Faith and I, at Shensara Yoga Festival - http://www.shensara.com/, this July, 2017 in Luray, VA. More to come about that soon! It felt like the way it was always intended to be.
DON’T FORGET TO STAY SPIRITUALLY FLY! Gita Zember from Gita’s Dream Kirtan, Faith and I.
Learn more about Faith HERE - http://faithhunter.com/faith/about-faith/
Learn more about her studio Embrace Yoga DC - https://www.embracedc.com/
Visit Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, located in Buckingham, VA (1 hour SW from Charlottesville, VA) - https://www.yogaville.org/
