Words of Wisdom:
“We rise up and we fall down only to rise again.” ~Karen Hackel
Thoughts for October:
Fall. Each month, as we prepare for another newsletter release, I spend a lot of time thinking about my note, what’s on my heart, and what words I’d like to impart on our community, in hopes that my words will inspire, uplift, and resonate.
In doing so for this newsletter, I thought a lot about the fall season and specifically the word, “fall.” I was curious as to the specific definition of this word, and so, I looked it up. The definition of fall is, “An often unexpected drop or descent or the season that comes after summer and before winter.” Two things stuck out for me as I read this definition…”unexpected drop” and “the season.”
In the past month, a few unexpected things have happened within and outside of the walls of Mind Body Flow Yoga. From the ongoing plaza construction, to the flood, to numerous class cancelations.
There’s that saying, “When it rains, it pours (no pun intended),” and this describes how the past month has felt. It’s as if one thing after another kept cropping up. I’d sit at home on my maternity leave, working to manage each occurrence as quickly as possible as they’d arise, all while feeling bad and sad for the fact that this all was happening.
It’s as if one thing after another kept cropping up.
When I looked up the definition of “fall,” I was immediately struck by how the definition so clearly embodied the very thing that MBFY was going through. “An unexpected drop or descent, or the season that comes after summer and before winter.” Isn’t it interesting that summer gives way to the descent of nature through fall, and how fall gives way to the hibernation of nature through winter, only for things to then blossom and bloom again with spring?
It’s as if in order for things to take flight and rise again, that the descent and fall are a necessary part of the process and equation.
The definition of fall reminded me that things have a way of falling down in life at times and that the fall is “often unexpected.” It reminded me that there is only so much that we can control and that there are a number of “seasons” that we pass through in life. But, seasons are just that…they are bound by time. They are temporary. They aren’t forever. Fall is the season that comes after summer and before winter. But, after this period, things start to blossom and bloom again. So, the “fall” can only lead to things rising and going up from the descent.
In the midst of an “unexpected drop” or a challenging “season” in life, it is so important to remind ourselves that it’s not forever and that it will pass. Although unexpected and challenging, I’m reminded that the plaza construction, class cancelations, and flood won’t be a part of MBFY forever. But, that these occurrences will eventually give way to aesthetic revitalization and stability.
In the midst of an “unexpected drop” or a challenging “season” in life, it is so important to remind ourselves that it’s not forever and that it will pass.
Although challenging, the pose that you hold on your mat won’t last forever. But, holding the pose gives way to learning to breathe and building character, strength, confidence, and so much more.
Did you know that it was three years ago today that Mind Body Flow Yoga released its first ever newsletter? And that the photo pictured above of myself was the photo that appeared in that first newsletter?
Mind Body Flow Yoga was six months old at the time and I was five months pregnant with my second child. Since then, numerous newsletters have followed and Mind Body Flow Yoga has seen and weathered many seasons. But, we have done it all as a community and it’s your continued willingness to be a stand for each other that makes it all possible. We have fallen together (both on the mat in poses and off the mat through challenges in life) and we have risen together.
Let’s keep remembering that after the fall, things eventually take rise and bloom again.
Love & Light,
Marina
About the Image:
The photo above is of Marina Mukandala, in our first ever newsletter, released three years ago today. The pose is full Vasisthasana (side plank). Marina was 5 months pregnant with her second child in this photo (son, Makai, who is now 2 years old). The benefits of Vasisthasana are:
- Builds arm and shoulder strength
- Stretches and strengthens your wrists
- Strengthens your abdomen and legs
- Improves balance and coordination
