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The entirety of our yoga reset has led us to this moment.

The moment when we truly let go and find our faith in the Universe, and in turn, within ourselves.

We are a tiny part of the Universe in physical form, playing our role as humans in this lifetime.

Now, I realize that that may be going a bit far for some of your.

Whatever name you wish to use, you can replace "Universe" with that.

The point here is that whatever you are facing in this moment, it cannot be overcome with fear. It cannot be overcome with hiding. It cannot be overcome by anger or by instability.

Whatever you are facing in this moment can only be overcome from a place of security, confidence, and a little bit of faith.

Faith that it will all be ok in the end. Different maybe. Difficult, I'm sure. Uncomfortable absolutely. But it will be ok.

By moving through this practice daily on your mat, by embodying your affirmations and processing your thoughts and emotions, you are at a stronger, more solid place to face the obstacles ahead of you.

Come back to these practices often, in moments of transitions or overwhelm, and remember that your yoga practice is there to support you when your knees are lowered and when your most powerful stance is set.

The Universe Loves and Supports Me

Sat Nam

There are a lot of different ways in which doubts or fears can show up in our lives.

There are visceral fears wherein you feel your physical safety is in jeopardy.

There are doubts around self-worth and fears about being good enough or capable enough of doing this or that thing.

There are the doubts related to financial stability, or fears of the events of the future.

I could go on and on, but I only wish to give you an idea of how prevalent these are.

And we are all subject to them. We are human. Humans have fear and doubts. It is something that each and every one of us has experienced at one moment or another.

"The beautiful thing about fear is that when you run to it, it runs away."

Fear can be useful, if you're being attacked by a tiger and need your sympathetic nervous system to kick in and save your life.

Fear, and we can tack on doubts here as well, is not so useful in our modern world where we spend most of our time in front of computers and on couches.

Fear should be momentary. A flick in the mind when the body is in danger.

It should not permeate the days.

So I invite you here to lean into your doubts and your fears. Look them straight in the eyes and see them for what they really are.

I release any doubts and fears.

In our practice today we will work on conquering fears, pushing past our doubt in ourselves, taking risks and learning to rely on ourselves, our mat, and our yoga practice to catch us when we fall.

So, say it with me now!

I release any doubts and fears!

I'll see you on the mat. xx

 I want you to say this affirmation out loud, first thing.

"What I need is always provided."

How reassuring is that? How good does that feel? How relieving...

"What I need is always provided."

Now, sometimes what we think we need is not actually true. Sometimes we want more than we need.

But when we rely upon the affirmation "What I need is always provided" it provides us with a level of faith that things will work out, that things will be ok.

Or, at the very least, we wont starve.

Today's practice moves us back down to the first chakra, Muladhara.

We've spent a few days exploring several of the other chakras, but as I've mentioned before, this series is about balancing and strengthening our roots, so we need to move back down.

Grab your favorite props: your bolsters, your blocks, maybe a blanket or two, because today is all about that support.

Supporting the Root Chakra physically through propping it up.

I'll see you on the mat!

Thinking back, how kind would you say that you are to yourself?

Are you patient with yourself?

Do you give yourself grace when you mess up?

Do you give yourself a break when you need one?

I would wager a guess that most of us are pretty strict with ourselves. I know, at least, that I am. I am hard on myself, borderline cruel sometimes, and it is something that I've been working diligently on changing over the past couple of years.

So, if you're like me and you have heard the angry voice in your head saying mean things, know that it is common, and it can be ok.

We simply need to learn how to acknowledge the voice, but not give it power.

Easier said than done eh?

I know, I know.

But that is what our yoga practice is for. It gives us the tools to know that we are not that voice in our head, and that what it's saying probably isn't true. That we have the power to change our thoughts.

I'm going to say that again.

We have the power to change our thoughts.

That is what we are doing in this reset. We are changing the conversation that we're having with ourselves.

No longer to we focus on fear, but instead we focus on love.

And today, self-love.

Self-love, self-compassion, and grace.

Moving on up to the Heart Chakra, Anahata, whose element is Air.

Today it is the breath, my friend.

And today, "I practice Self-Compassion."

I'm not sure about you, but the first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of something that is strong and secure, I think of a tree.

I suppose a mountain could work, too

But I think of a tree.

Like a Redwood.

Tall, regal, not going anywhere no matter how hard you push.

And that's what we'll be emulating today my friend.

A tall Redwood that doesn't sway with the changing times.

Although, we wont be doing any tree poses, we will be balancing, building our strength so we can stand firm through the storms.

Did you wonder what Chakra today might be incorporating?

The third, of course. The center of power in the body. Manipura, the Lustrious Gem, my all time favorite one. The element that correlates with Manipura, the Solar Plexus Chakra, is Fire (I'm an Aries. Of course I'd love it), and the color is yellow.

A quote from Anodea Judith, the authority behind chakras: "Power begins with what is. Earth, as matter, is the container, movement is the means. Our bodies are the vehicle, our emotions its fuel, making the third chakra the engine...Earth and water anchor us in reality, forming the container that allows the alchemical fire to burn bright and hot. They are the crucible of transformation."

The first three chakras. This is how we will root and how we will rise.

I am Centered, Secure, and Strong

Although we will be spending the majority of our time throughout this reset focusing on the Root Chakra, Muladhara, I think it's also important that we spend some time touching on the other ones as well.

There are Seven Main Chakras in the human body, and they are energy centers depicted by swirling colors of light.

Don't worry, I won't get too crazy here.

Each Chakra corresponds with an element, a color, and a fundamental right, among other things.

The first Chakra, Muladhara, corresponds with the element of Earth, the color red, and the fundamental right to be here, to exist, to take up space, to be.

Chakra one is very much about the physical, the actual body, the food we put in it, the roof over our heads.

Security and survival.

Two things that we may have doubts about right now.

Chakra Two, Svadhisthana, on the other hand, is the right to feel. 

Svadhisthana means sweetness, as we move up from the base of the spine and into Sacral Plexus, the color is orange and the element is water.

We have the right to feel things, and to want things.

Water is an element that can be both docile, and powerful. But it is never ignored.

It is the life force for all living creatures on this planet.

​It shapes the rocks and creates pathways where there were none.

Water moves mountains, and we will move with it today.

I am Rooted, but I Flow.

Namaste friend!

I am so grateful that you've chosen to strengthen your roots with me here, today, to begin our seven day reset.

​Throughout this week together, we will focus on and move through daily affirmations which are designed to strengthen the First Chakra, Muladhara, which in Sanskrit means Root Support.

This chakra is often depicted as being located at the very base of the spine, the closest point that our axial skeleton has with the earth, and the point that touches the earth when we are sat upon the ground.

It is the foundation upon which all other chakras rest, the foundation of the house if you will. Without a solid foundation, the house will fall at the first sign of an earthquake, or powerful gust of wind.

This is true for architecture as it is true for humans. It is imperative that we have a strong foundation within our bodies in order to build, grow, branch out, take risks, and let go of fear.

Fear is the demon of the first chakra, meaning that when your root chakra is out of balance, fear has the break in the armor that it needs to come in and bring you to your knees.

Fear is all around us right now.  It is in the media, in the frantic calculations of savings accounts and obsessive refreshing of the news feed. Maybe it's in your house, or coming at you everytime you pick up the phone. Perhaps it greets you in bed at night.

It is not something to be ashamed of, I just want to reassure you. It is a natural reaction to so much change and uncertainty in so short a time. 

But it is why our first affirmation is "I am safe." 

Say it with me now! I am safe. I am safe. I am safe.

We start with this because it is the very foundation we need to build ourselves back up. As a person. As a community. As a nation. As a people. As a planet. 

And I'm grateful you have chosen to start here, with me.

​Now, shall we?