Djuna's Favorite Time of Year
Fall is my favorite season, and my favorite time to teach the Beginner Series at mang’Oh. I’m a huge fan of making resolutions in the fall instead of on New Years Day. Maybe it’s the start of a new school year – the air feels right for learning new things. Maybe it’s because my birthday is in the fall – new year, new beginnings. Or maybe it’s because nature becomes the perfect guide, reminding us that as the leaves change colors and fall off the trees, we too can make changes and release the things no longer serving us well in our growth. Helping others either discover the beauty of a regular yoga practice for the first time, return after a break, or deepen their practices through the Beginner Series inspires me to make positive changes in my life, and teaches me so much about myself and my own practice each year.
Yoga feels like coming home for me. I am able to connect to my breath and my body. As I physically begin to release the tension and tightness through movement, I am able to mentally turn the volume down on my thoughts and begin to hear the quieter, more authentic voice within. Yoga allows us to connect deeply with ourselves. It is not about how flexible or strong we are, it’s not about being able to do any specific poses, it is about uniting mind, body, and spirit in service of being our best selves. Ram Daas says it beautifully, “The spiritual journey is not about acquiring something outside yourself. Rather, you are penetrating the layers and veils to return to the deepest truth of your own being.” This is what I hope to share with students, especially in the Beginner Series – this feeling of coming home, connecting deeply with oneself, and tapping into the knowledge that we all have exactly what we need within us already.
I love the diverse groups that have made up each Beginner Series thus far. We’ve had people who had never stepped foot in a yoga studio before, people returning after long breaks for every reason you could think of, students hoping to deepen their practices or using the Series as a stepping stone to the Teacher Training. Over the last several years I have witnessed numerous students make huge, positive life changes after participating. Many went from taking beginner level classes to attending advanced level classes with confidence. All have connected more deeply with themselves and the people in their lives. There is no right or wrong reason to join the Beginner Series – all are welcome. I truly cannot wait to take this journey with a new group of students. Are you ready to join us?
Learn more about our October Beginner Series here.
Love,
Djuna