​Day 28 of IDJSIJ Challenge – Doing Jack Shit Is Better With Friends

This past week I started two long term classes at Yoga Loka. The first is a nine month program that meets once a month to study Durga, the primordial mother energy. Already in just introducing ourselves to each other we talked about empowerment, invisibility, and the different between domination and dominion. We were told to ask ourselves self-inquiry questions like: In coming to the mother, what am I seeking protection from? What fear lies behind the need for protection? What is power, and where do I feel powerless? Then we were led in meditation, and followed up by sharing experiences verbally, and afterward in the Slack communication app set up for private discussion.



The second class I started is a weekly book study group covering the ancient text the Bhagava Gita, the story of a young warrior who, when faced with battle, refuses to engage. The text is a conversation between the warrior and the god Krishna, and covers topics about right action, living our higher purpose, and releasing the fruits of our actions. All that came just from reading the introduction and discussing our different translations. In this class we were asked to consider questions like: What is the war I am personally fighting? Is it really mine or have I taken on someone else’s battle? Is it physical, mental, or emotional?



If you’ve been reading my posts for a month, you can tell this sort of philosophical study is right up my alley. But even more meaningful is the group dynamic. Exploring these question about life in a group with like minded individulals creates an energetic space of safety. Sharing struggles and experiences, asking questions, and encouraging each other promotes growth in a way that might not happen otherwise. Add group meditation practices, and the result is even more powerful.



You don’t need to be in a yoga study group to find connection. Maybe your energy balancing practice is crochet, baking, gardening, running, or creating music. Finding that group of souls, either online or in person, who walk the same path can inspire you in directions you didn’t expect and create an uplift of momentum that you wouldn’t have working on your own. to be seen, acknowledged, and supported - isn't that what we all want? I’m grateful for my local group of fellow students, and I’m looking forward to another year of knowing myself just a little better.
#yoga #yogapractice #restorativeyoga #yogachallenge #selfstudy #meditation #empowerment #durga #bhagavadgita #sangha #support