The Yogi at hOMe for the Holidays
“If you think you’re enlightened, spend a week with your family,” said the spiritual teacher Ram Dass. Over the next couple of weeks, a lot of people are going to find out how deeply established they are in their light.
Families gather because they are traveling through this life in intimate proximity. This may be the only group in your sphere where you spend extended time with people whose beliefs, attitudes, understandings, and habits vary widely from yours. Perhaps you love these people dearly but don’t like them much at all. They may have chosen to travel their path with someone with whom you have little resonance. All these possibilities mean the time with your family will easily show you the inner work awaiting you.
Family challenges you intensely because you care whether these people recognize and respect the person you have become. Tensions ease when you let go of this desire and understand your relationship with your Highest Self is sufficient sustenance.
Stay aware of your energy, as always. Yoga describes three qualities, or gunas, of energy that twine together like a rope. Sattva brings balance, clarity, and harmony, and illuminates the path so brightly that your inner shine is visible on the outside. Your job is to keep your sattvic energy prevailing.
Keep a pulse on what is required to stay in your clear state. Do you need time in the morning for your regular yoga or breathing practice before you join the family? Maybe you step away in the middle of the day for yoga nidra or an actual snoozing nap. Perhaps a walk around the block in the fresh air or an excursion to a beautiful natural place will do the trick. Understand that your family is not responsible to behave “right” so that your energy is not threatened. Your family is not responsible for your wellbeing. If you feel triggered by family, they are here to be your teachers and help you dig a little deeper, strengthening your capacity to tap into the river of peace that runs continuously within you.
Perhaps by now you are solidly self-contained, and family no longer throws you. From your new perspective, you might be thinking how radiant, healthy and happy they too could become with just a little effort in a different direction. Don’t be fooled. Such thinking moves you out of your zone and into confusion. From your center of compassion, you accept them exactly as they are. If a flicker of interest in transformation rises, let it be stirred by your example, not your well presented argument.
Be the gift each person in your family needs to receive this season. When you need nothing from others, you have much more to give. You lift up others at no expense to your own vitality. As you stay close to your Self, you are truly hOMe for the holidays.
Theresa Shay is the founding director of TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, where she teaches weekly yoga and meditation online and trains others to teach TriYoga®. Each week, she shares wisdom cultivated from decades of TriYoga study and practice.
Learn more about her here. Theresa can be reached at Theresa@PennsylvaniaYoga.com. Find her on Instagram @theresa_of_triyoga for more inspiration and light.