Peace takes Time

Practice. Patience. Acceptance.

I spent the weekend with a group of yoga teachers and as someone who works predominantly on my own, it was wonderful. We shared knowledge, tips and the best bit we got to adjust and support each other’s practice and be the student!

It’s given me such a renewed confidence that I didn’t know I was missing!

So much of what we covered felt familiar, in the best kind of way. It reminded me that the work I’ve been doing over the years is helpful. Useful. Embedded.
And it reignited my enthusiasm for sharing my love of yoga, especially Ashtanga, with even more clarity and energy.

We also got to enjoy a little meditation as a group. As students. Together.

I like the simplicity of sitting and in theory ‘doing nothing’ but it’s something I’ve always struggled with. We often hear words like ‘silence’ or ‘peace’ but I find the world and my mind extremely noisy. Most of the time!

I was reflecting on what my meditation practice means or feels like to me.

To me it’s simply ‘stillness’.

When I start my meditation practice, I’m aware of how fidgety I am.
Even when I’m trying ‘so hard’ to sit still.

I feel a finger move or a toe twitch. Then seconds later another twitch!
It drives me mad.
I only became aware of these involuntary movements in recent years, but I’m pretty sure has always been the case.
Interestingly, I see it in others, in savasana.

But I sit with it all the same. With the twitches.
The body twitches are absolutely in sync with the mind.
That busy, racing mind. That noise.

Eventually it slows. The movement slows. Gets less.
My mind still races but it does get slower. Quieter, almost.
I notice the body feels this slowness. A softness.
And still. Just stillness.

I never feel silence. Silence can feel impossible.
The world is really noisy. Our minds are busy.
Life keeps moving.

In the stillness, I feel that peace is possible.

Not something we find once and keep.
Something we have to practise.
Something we have to work towards.
Something that asks for repetition, patience and a level of acceptance for just the now.

We practise because it helps us return. Again and again.

This is exactly why I value live practice so much.
Not perfection. Just returning. Together.