A Constant Companion

I am sitting at my desk watching snow fall from the sky in huge, wet flakes. While a September snowstorm brings a premature end to our bountiful garden, I am hopeful the moisture will ease the forest fires that are burning through Colorado and have filled the Arkansas Valley with smoke the last few days. Between social unrest, the state of American politics, the pandemic, hurricanes, and fires, 2020 continues to deliver challenges of all kinds. Of course, I am not saying anything new here, just reflecting a bit on current times.

Kelly and I have been plotting a bit about our next moves. We decided to sell our house to reduce expenses as the economic effects of Covid-19 continue to make themselves known and we are contemplating relocating once the property sells. I have no details fit to share yet and much of the process feels a bit out of my control at this juncture since I can’t make anyone buy my house and  I am not entirely sure what needs my future self will have for work, travel, education, etc.  all of which makes decision-making a bit surreal.

Once again, life is offering me  an opportunity to  practice patience and curiosity in the face of uncertainty and anxiety. And as we all know,  I am a yoga practitioner, not a yoga master,  so  I pray a lot, work on the things over which I have some control, and practice the somewhat elusive  art of surrender for the rest of it. Generally speaking, the formula works quite well.

I have been busy dragging and dropping years of content to my new Teachable format and curating classes for a monthly subscription channel on the same platform, which should be ready for launch in its initial phase soon. These classes are all pre-recorded with no banter of the livestream format and all of the alignment, strong work, and information (and a good library of flow classes) that would make a great way to practice on-demand. Right now, I have compiled  over 125 classes on what will be the subscription channel, so if you want a lot of Christina Sell Yoga, you can have at it. 

Alex, Britt, and I also  into Season 2 of the Live the Light of Yoga podcast with the theme  Radical Faith in Uncertain Times, which gives us a lot of room to cover a variety of topics and respond to the ever-changing circumstances of life. I have several interviews on deck with people I regard as “wise elders” along with a few guests to discuss the intersection of yoga and race. 

All in all, despite the anxiety, uncertainty, and upcoming changes I am enjoying my days. Teaching yoga on Zoom and having regular contact with the students in my courses remains a bright spot of connection as well as a heart-warming structure.  Going through years of past content reminds me that yoga asana and philosophy have been a constant companion through many previous changes and upheavals, all of which took distinct shapes within me, influenced my perspectives, and asked me to grow in surprising ways.  Practice hasn’t stopped me from making occasional impulsive choices nor has practice made everything perfect or pain-free. Practice hasn’t  saved me from illness, loss, or upset and it  certainly hasn’t turned me into an easy-going person.

Practice has, however, been a way to stay in relationship with myself throughout those ups and downs while giving  me a means by which to offer myself my own presence, commitment, and fidelity. In the same way, radical faith is not magical thinking or a childish notion that everything will work out, but is, instead, the premise that gives rise to the experience that Grace, Love and Presence are constant companions in the midst of turbulent times. 

So, like that. 

More soon. 

Also, it is not too late to sign up for the September Intensive that meets this weekend. All materials will be stored on Teachable so if you had trouble in the past with dropbox, etc. that problem is solved.