The Shakti Shine - June 24th, 2019
Shakti Love Notes
We are always growing. I love that! And the more I grow, the more I recognize how important it is for us all to share what we're going through-- even (and especially) me.
So these Love Notes are a space for me to share with you each week-- about the studio, my life, how our community is growing.
A guy I had a crush on for like 2 seconds in 2013 taught me what I needed to know about non-attachment.
There is much more to yoga than the physical poses we practice for exercise-- that's basically just the entry-point to deeper exploration, because our bodies are tangible, we can relate to them, and they are meant to be moved. A deeper element of yoga is its ethical guidelines, The Yamas & Niyamas.
The first 5, the Yamas, present how to relate with & in the world with others. The second 5, the Niyamas, offer guidelines for how to relate & grow within oneself.
My favorite Yama (aka the one I feel like I spend the most time working on) is Aparigraha, non-attachment / non-possessiveness. I love what Deborah Adele says in her book "The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice,"
<< Aparigraha invites us to let go and to pack lightly for our journey through life, all the while caring deeply and enjoying fully. >>
She tells a story in her book about an ancient practice of capturing monkeys...
"Small cages with narrow bars are made and a banana is placed inside the cage. The monkeys come along, reach in between the bars, and grab the banana. Then the monkeys begin the impossible task of trying to pull the banana through the bars. And here is the amazing thing-- in the moment when the monkey catchers come along, the monkeys are totally free. There is nothing keeping them from running off to safety... All they have to do is to let go of the banana."
How does this relate to my crush in 2013?
Well I met this guy through yoga, and he was just passing through town. He'd be back the next month, though. We quickly hit it off, and for the whole 3 days he was in town we spent every day together and talked A LOT.
He left town, and not a word. No call. No text. Nothin'.
When he got back to town I asked him about it, "Why didn't I hear from you?" (the read-between-the-lines version in my mind was more like "WTH, what's wrong with you?")
To which he replied, "You really need to consider your expectations & work on practicing non-attachment." (I don't exactly remember what he said verbatim, but you get the gist, and that's what I heard.)
In the moment I was taken aback.
...I consider that same scenario now, in 2019, and my response would have included many more expletives & a lot less time caring what he had to say about me...
But 2013 Ruby needed to hear this.
He was right. I was expecting something I never asked for and he never promised. And I was spending way too much energy on attaching myself to this experience with this guy who I didn't really know and didn't actually have a relationship with.
So I dropped the banana.
The banana was needing this to *be something* and wanting this connection to *mean something*.
When I let go of the banana I was able to enjoy our time hanging out, move on without attachment... and know that I deserved better than to be ghosted like that anyway.
It's so funny to me, but that experience caused a big shift in my brain and a true understanding of Aparigraha in a real-life, practical way.
So thanks guy from Spring of 2013, thanks Deb for the analogy, and thanks Self for taking what you need and leaving what you don't.
xx
Ruby
Beyond the mat...
We love Athens.
And we love you.
So let's have more of that-- together.
Here's where you can see what we're up to outside of the studio.
Have ideas about where we should be / what we should check out / how we can show up?
Reply to this email to let us know.
Last Week Recap
Down Dog Days of Summer was a beautiful summer night of connection! Thank you for showing up willing to see & be seen.
$10 - all proceeds go to the
Get Comfortable Fund.
Join us for our next one, July 22.
~Sign up now~
Juneteenth
"June 19th marks the most celebrated day of emancipation in the US, Juneteenth. Though slavery was declared illegal throughout Confederate states on Jan 1, 1863 it wasn't until Jun 19th, 1865 that slaves in the deepest part of the former Confederacy were actually freed." - Rachel Ricketts
"I think that Juneteenth is a necessary moment of observation because...There hasn’t been a national accounting (of the trauma of 4 million enslaved people and their descendants), and I think the Juneteenth holiday is kind of a reminder of that. And it will continue to be a reminder and a haunting until we do. It’s necessary, but it isn’t sufficient in terms of what we need to when it comes to acknowledging this history." - Karlos Hill
International Day of Yoga
Athens's 3rd annual IDY celebration was a full day of *free* yoga classes & community with Shakti, Fuel, M3, & Five Points.
Thank you for celebrating with us!
* Special thanks to Sound Insight Productions, Off the Wall Photo Booths, Journey Juice, & lululemon Athens *
Yoga & Coffee
What's better than Sunday morning yoga with Shakti & a batch brew from 1000faces?
~ Probably nothing ~
It's lovely -
It's healing -
It's easy like Sunday morning -
This event at one of our favorite spots raises money for the Get Comfortable Fund.
Thanks for helping us give back.
Inquiry Corner w/ Emily: The Chakras
Hi everyone, Emily here! If you’re new to inquiry, this looks like moving through questions, prompts, activities, and conversations that help you learn more about yourself. I’m excited you’re here! For the next eight weeks, we will focus on the chakra system, or the subtle/energetic bodies. (more on IGTV). The chakras are seven energy centers that sit along the spine of your physical body. The chakras start at your tailbone and move to the tip of your head: Root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown. Each chakra has a specific location, energy, theme, action, color, texture, sound, and *quality*.
~ The Sacral Chakra (Svadisthana) ~
The sacral chakra is the seat of creativity, passion, drive, and watery flow.
It’s our ability to create something new, dance, express love, write, go with the flow, paint...
Up until a few years ago, I considered myself “uncreative.” I had a “science brain” that wasn’t conducive to painting, writing creatively, drawing, sculpting, playing an instrument, what have you.Practicing yoga unlocked something in me.
Yoga taught me that movement is inherently creative. Each time I get on my mat is creative expression.
Inquiry time:
+ What would happen if you re-wrote the story of not being “creative?”
+ What would happen if you got creative every time you got on your mat?
+ If you took off all the pressure to be good at something, what art form would you explore?
Consider the fact that you don’t have to be a professional artist to lead a creative life.
Go! Make something new!
(If you'd like more information on the chakras, check out Shakti's IGTV.)
Up to Something Bigger:
Summer Book Club w/ Rachel Cargle
follow @rachel.cargle
learn more here
see more resources here