Weaving Light into our Darkness

We love ourselves at our brightest – the place where we feel the most on fire. In class after class, indeed in my own practice and teaching, I often find myself encouraging both myself and students to pay attention to the light -- after all energy follows thought.    Yet, one of my dearest mentors, Swami Rama, used to say “you will go further in your Yoga by exploring your dark than you ever will by simply hanging out in the light.” 

Hard to believe, but after years of practice, I have found these words to ring true.  Many of us glimpse our darkness and run from it – often hiding it from ourselves and others. If we were to allow ourselves to go there, we would have to face our grief and despair, anger and betrayal, and meanness and pettiness.  We are afraid that by going there, we will fall apart, and lose everything dear to us.  Yet, for those who are brave enough, they find that in the falling, we are caught.  In the darkness, we find the authentic sparks of our own being and truth.  Here, we discover our Yoga.

As we face the challenges of our darkness, it is vital to be armed with the tools that keep us from drowning.  Just like the rest of our yoga, we must be skillful in our approach.  I found that while I explored the dark, I needed to thread – or suture – to the light.  The tools that connected me to the light, came from Samyoga. 

Even with hundreds of styles of yoga in the world, according to the  ancient texts, all  yoga fall into one of two categories: yoga that strengthens the connection to who we truly are, and yoga that removes the things that get in the way of connecting to who we truly are -- Samyoga and Viyoga respectively. Both are needed, and I found SamYoga to be vital for the journey into these deeper, hidden aspects of myself.

If you are dedicated to self-understanding and want to find the heart of Yoga, come discover some of the tools of Samyoga.  We will weave together postures, breathing, intention, attention, sound, mindfulness and meditation to enter into our own state of Yoga, and discover the jewels of our own Self.

Jackie Dobrinska is a beloved yoga therapist, holistic health educator, minister and author. She recognizes that finding fulfillment and beauty is an inside job - the result of an inner radiance that comes from connecting to the core of who we truly are. She teaches at Asheville Yoga Donation Center on Fridays 1:30 - 3:00 and Asheville Community Yoga 9:30 - 11:00 on Tuesdays.  (and as a self proclaimed yoga nerd, she promises to leave the left-brain discussions at the door!) www.ASimpleVibrantLife.com