Reorient

by Kayla Rudoi, Citizen Teacher + mama

In asana we move through a series of different physical positions while working to maintain alignment. The ability to maintain a deep rhythmic breath is dependent on our ability to observe where we are in space, align ourselves and expand. Reorienting within our mind often feels more difficult since it requires us to practice mindfulness to see the connections between our thoughts and reactions during sometimes stressful or uncomfortable circumstances.

Reframing is the practice of taking a situation that we view negatively and looking at it from a more positive perspective. Personally, this was never useful for me as a mother of two under two who was struggling with postpartum depression. Rather, I focused on recognizing all the options available to me, even the ones that I didn’t believe were worthwhile. Sometimes shifting from a negative perspective to a positive perspective is too great of leap for our mind to take. In those instances, I would focus on feeling empowered to decide and recognize that there were other choices I could have made that were not aligned with my values and priorities.

Becoming accustomed to reflection and developing the techniques to override our sympathetic nervous systems response to circumstances that are not truly a threat takes time and compassion. Just as we become more skilled at reorienting ourselves in challenging or unfamiliar postures in practice, over time, we become more skilled at reorienting our mind when life presents challenges. There is no doubt that our emotional and physical wellbeing are intimately connected so sustaining both requires us to reorient consistently through the many seasons of life that we experience.

THEMED CLASS: 9:45am Blend for Clearing with Nichole, Bloomfield Studio