Shortly after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in 2022, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion in the United States, I fell into a period of despair at the loss of this critical right, and outrage at the suffering that I believed was to come in my home country. Despite decades of meditation and yoga, I hesitated to simply quell these feelings through my practices.
I sensed that these emotions – though difficult – were valid and important to listen to. Painful emotions, I learned, serve an important evolutionary purpose: they keep us safe by conveying information about situations we need to pay attention to. Fear, for example, alerts us to impending danger, prompting us to take action.
Recognizing that what I was feeling served a purpose, I yearned for a space to honestly express and share what I had been holding.
It struck me that after decades of asana practice, I was deeply grounded in my physical body. With nearly 30 years of consistent meditation, I was also comfortable in the subtle, spiritual realms.
Yet, there existed a whole realm in between - the landscape of my emotions - that my yoga practice hadn't fully equipped me to navigate. If I was committed to my wholeness, which I was, I needed to address this middle ground.
Soon after, I joined an Active Hope online book club and was introduced to Joanna Macy’s teachings and the Work That Reconnects - a form of experiential group designed to help people metabolize their pain for our world and develop the motivation to take creative, collaborative action on behalf of life.
It was a breath of fresh air—a space where I could speak openly about my feelings regarding what was happening in our society. Rather than sinking deeper into pain, sharing how I felt was liberating! It freed up energy, made me feel more alive, more connected to others, and enthusiastic about contributing to the betterment of our world. This became the seed for the emerging synthesis of Yoga and the Work That Reconnects that I have been nurturing since.
One of the most immediate gifts of engaging in the Work That Reconnects was being able to tell the truth about my experience and discover that others shared similar concerns. I no longer had to keep the feelings to myself—they could be held lovingly in community.
I understood that the anger and despair I felt was not only warranted, but also a natural and wholesome response to witnessing suffering in our world. As a reflection of my compassion and caring, my pain was to be honored as a sign of my humanity. Indeed, it was pointing me toward a deep desire to act on behalf of life. I realized this was a natural outgrowth of my decades of yoga practice.
I now integrate practices from the Work That Reconnects into my retreats and classes, providing space for authentic and meaningful conversation among the community I support.
At a time when many of us might be experiencing sadness, fear, grief, overwhelm, or other difficult emotions, perhaps it can provide some solace to see your pain not as a problem or pathology, but as a reflection of your compassion and humanity. Honor it as such and see what it is telling you.
Recognize yourself as a dignified, caring human being of planet Earth, one among millions of others wishing and working for a better future for all life. Allow it to fuel your practice with greater purpose and meaning.
