Great Ships

 
When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But … that is not what great ships are built for.

- Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Like great ships, we too are built for more than tranquil waters.

In my three decades of teaching yoga, and ten years writing this blog, I've connected with countless practitioners who have spent not just years, but decades – 20, 30, even 40 years or more – practicing yoga.

When I reflect on the many brave, sincere, and kind-hearted people I've met over the years, it feels truly remarkable! More than that – in these troubled times, your presence fortifies my spirit.

I think of all the many “great ships” out there, in all corners of the world, dedicated to the inner and outer work of yoga.

All of you who are out there living your commitment to care for yourselves and your communities through seemingly small but purposeful actions: whether that’s using your breath to stay centered during a difficult conversation, drawing on your meditation practice to find perspective when the news feels overwhelming, and aligning your daily choices with yogic values like nonviolence, respect, and compassion for all beings.

What if this is the moment you’ve been preparing for? What if now is the time to fully draw upon those inner resources you’ve been cultivating for your own well-being and that of your community? To use every tool in your yoga toolkit to weave sacred community and stand in solidarity with life, instead of succumbing to fear?

Perhaps this is your moment to anchor firmly into all you've learned and practiced – whether for years, months, or even weeks – and let it flow through you in service to the upliftment of humanity.

We can trust that the harbor has served its purpose. It's time to sail.