Wow, 2020, this has been a year a year of passionate reflection, understanding my own guiding principles and a continuous recommitment to being and doing my best. This has been a year of accepting, doing what can be done out of service to one another and our community, as well as a year of learning, definitely unlearning and relearning in an effort to try and make sense of it all. I know this continues.
Like many of you, I am exhausted and tired, looking forward to the pause between 2020 and 2021. I am grateful to my family, my friends, my inspirations and strong anchors who have encouraged me to keep going with courage, and to all of the people who helped us get through this year – from health professionals and essential workers to anti-racism organizers, and the pillars in our community that kept showing up because they knew it was important.
I’m grateful to our community, deep in my heart, I am grateful.
I sincerely hope you’re doing well.
Taking lots of time for introspection these days, reflecting on all that has happened and allowing time for healthy integration.
A few things to ponder:
What was your biggest learning from 2020?
What is important for you to repattern in your own life as we enter this next chapter in our lives?
What brings you joy, and how can you cultivate more of that in 2021?
Surya Daya was definitely not immune to the effects of Covid – 19. Looking back at this past year, I can’t help but take a big deep breath as I too process all the change.
Many of our teachers stepped away from teaching to focus on their families and personal lives, after paying overhead for 3 months with the initial forced closure the reality of our lived experience amidst the pandemic hit and I realized we needed to vacate our sacred little studio space with rising costs and an uncertain future – creating an online yoga hub in this little pocket of the internet.
A few of us shifted gears to offer some zoom classes, which a few classes continue as an anchor for students. I am surprised how comforting it is to be able to come together and practice in this way.
A collective of us came together during the summer and offered a special outdoor series called Under The Oak Yoga, at a dear friends sacred outdoor space. Ahhh still breathing in the medicine from that wise old Oak.
I was able to offer some free community outdoor summer classes in partnership with Carebridge, The Mississippi Mills Youth Centre, and Ocean Bridge, as well as some small forest classes. We offered a few karma classes; supporting local families, our local Food Bank and most recently, holding an online restorative yoga class on Christmas eve for Interval House (where we were able to raise $350 for this very needed resource). Thank YOU, beyond words, thank YOU.
I am grateful for all of these opportunities to come together in community, through outdoor classes, online offerings, videos, and back doing my massage work. I am repeatedly reminded that we live in such a special town.
As I think back over the past year, I am also reminded of the quote by Theodore Roosevelt, which Brene Brown often refers to
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…..”
Perhaps we could all bring this appreciation into 2021. We’re all just doing our best, remember that, be gentle with yourself and those around you, we’re all just doing our best in new territory and during this confusing chapter in our lives.
The future is so uncertain but I know in my heart that something beautiful and strong will be born from all of this.
Life has changed for each of us, please know I hold that in my heart for each of you.
Due to the impact of COVID 19 all passes can be used towards our online zoom classes, or email me and I can send you links in lieu of classes for access to recorded yoga sessions. I think the need for creativity is definitely needed here.
We’re unable to carry passes forward from Rising Sun as that was a very different chapter in the history of yoga in Almonte, one we’re unable to carry forward.
We’re also unable to offer refunds for passes, due to the financial impact of COVID on our studio. For this we are grateful for your understanding. Your passes will remain in our system and our support continues to be here for you, and we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Things are continually changing, for us too.
I too am learning to truly live and focus on the now of my life.
We hope you can find it in your hearts to understand our situation amongst this global crises, 11 months later.
I wish for each of you a peaceful winter, and a new year filled with ease, health, vitality and prosperity.
I miss our in studio class sessions, so much, and look forward to holding that space again one day.
With so much love, and respect for each of you,
Amber
