Tuning in to Inner Wisdom

A few weeks ago, I was having breakfast with a friend who asked me as seemingly simple question: "Do you know who you are?"

It caught me off guard and I realized the honest answer was no. I have spent so much of my life pushing, striving, and reaching that I lost track of what I was doing all of that for.

In yoga there is a concept called pratyahara. It means turning inward, but not in an escapist way. It is more like pausing long enough to notice what is actually going on underneath all of the noise. Beneath your worries and to-do lists, beyond the constant commentary in our head.

Our inner wisdom is always there but many of us are too busy to hear it. However, if we do not take the time to listen, our body will eventually take it for us. This might be through fatigue, getting sick, or a persistent ache.

So instead of pushing past it, I invite you to notice what happens if you pause?

What happens when you listen to your body, instead of instructing it?

Besides the basics, making sure the bills are paid and everyone is fed, what is it that you really need? What is truly necessary?

It may feel hard to take the time to turn inward in this crazy world but pratyahara does not require a vacation, or even an hour of meditation. It can be small. A moment before you go to sleep, looking out a window, or sitting in the car before you go inside.

Notice your breath. Notice where you're holding tension. Invite your body to soften, even slightly.

Like all things in yoga, this is a practice. It is not about doing it perfectly. When we get upset with ourselves, we only create more tension. This month, I invite you to appreciate the times that you do notice. The times that you remember your whole body, your whole being, and who you truly are.