bittersweet

Movement sequences are recipes of postures. Some moments taste sweet (easy, liberating, nourishing) while others taste bitter (seemingly impossible, uncomfortable,  nauseating).

We often want to simmer in the sweet and avoid the bitter, so we race through the latter, or avoid it altogether.

I value the bitter parts even more than the sweet because learning to linger through discomfort on the mat teaches us how to overcome difficulties and shift perspective beyond its edges.

Moving through bitterness makes us stronger, more empowered and emotionally capable to deal with the less desirable facets of life.

Movement can revive us, especially when we feel spent, upset or deflated. Dynamic practices can actually be helpful at such times which doesn’t make much logical sense, yet it’s true because such movement allows our physical tension (as a result of emotional trauma) to be moved through and released. In turn we feel lighter because we’ve allowed our body wisdom to lead the way.

The body never lies - it holds vast intelligence - expanded by nature, breath and simplicity.

Most people never get to experience the huge capacity of healing and enlightenment that movement offers. It’s such a gift and it costs nothing more than time.

Mindful movement reconnects us to parts of ourselves we’d lost along the way.

Next time you’re craving the sweet and the easeful, remember that’s not where the expansion lies. Comfort doesn’t always serve us - it may seem easy, but that’s not what life’s about.

To grow and thrive, we must explore our edges and craft new paths. We must lean into the bitter and be willing to linger there a while.

Bitter sweet and all the parts between.