"Everything seems to have to have this kind of hardness these days. But in my experience, the things I want to do more of are not hard. I want to make it more friendly. I want more ease."
As someone who doesn’t practice yoga and meditation but is very curious and would love to but just doesn’t know where to start, I loved reading this! I think meditation can be very intimidating, especially when trying to read and learn more about it, for example I recently listened to the podcast series ‘Untold: The Retreat’ which just made the idea of meditation and the retreats far more intimidating and potentially negative!
The insight that shifted something for me here was giving yourself permission to direct kindness just to yourself, when that’s what you need.
I’ve found myself setting an expectation that I *should* be sending love and kindness to all beings. But I’ve struggled with the loving kindness mantras. I don’t even necessarily believe it when I direct it to myself, so how can I expect to believe in it when directing it to others?
I can see how giving yourself the time and grace to find that love within yourself is the best way to, eventually, be able to direct it to others. Like Naomi, I try to avoid taking shortcuts in my practice. I didn’t realize I was doing that here.
Directing love and kindness from a place of emptiness within will only lead to more suffering. You have to fill your cup up first, put your mask on first, etc.
I found myself with tears in my eyes at your description of YOTL and Naomi’s work. How lucky we were to have that place as a yoga home for all those years xx
This is beautiful, Rosie and Naomi, and perfectly timed for me. I've am drawn toward the truth of interconnectedness, and wanting to share ideas that invite others to explore themselves in that context. https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/all-clear-are-you-ready
But there's the notion that it's too hard, or too weird, or that we lack the time, or that we are striving to attain something more tangible - a pose, for example, or an election - or even that it's not enough to just hold space for ourselves and the planet (oh, the irony!). And then just today, my husband and I were talking about yoga's origins being that of connection (union) rather than the physical postures we associate with it today. I really appreciate how you've both brought this into focus and created a soft, inviting path for readers to reconsider. Thank you!
A wonderful read, such lovely insights from you both. I loved the bit where Naomi says meditation is about friendliness and if you can sit with yourself and you can sit with others, that is gold ✨
Beautiful article. Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that the same people who say "what's the point of just sitting there" are the ones who can't sit still with themselves for 2 minutes! :D
I like how Naomi put it: (I'm paraphrasing) Learning how to be with yourself, you learn how to be with other people; cultivating the inside allows you to extend that same sensitivity to the outside world.
And yes, meditation as a practice is something you do cultivate with time but it's very much like a superpower, so it's worth it, in my opinion.
What an interesting interview and so glad it’s about yoga and meditation. I had so many misconceptions about yoga before I started practicing six years ago! I was lucky to find a local studio in North London with a similar ethos to Yoga on the lane (in fact one teacher used to teach there as well) and it’s incredibly important to find teachers you resonate with for yoga it’s a bit like therapy: you have to trust those guiding you, whether in a vinyasa class or in deep meditation. I also bought Naomi’s book Yoga for Life when it came out and it received a lot of love during the pandemic, when it was a great physical companion to the online classes. It’s beautifully made too.
I really loved this. Thanks @Rosie Spinks and Naomi. I’ve practiced meditation for years now but oh so very on and off. I get annoyed and bored and frustrated and aaaall the things that make me not want to do it! I liked the perspectives presented in this article though. I have recently tried to think of meditation like sediment settling - at first it’s all spinning around in my mind but after 5-10 minutes it has settled and the mind is clearer. And yet - I still procrastinate and put it off each day!! 🤦♀️
As someone who doesn’t practice yoga and meditation but is very curious and would love to but just doesn’t know where to start, I loved reading this! I think meditation can be very intimidating, especially when trying to read and learn more about it, for example I recently listened to the podcast series ‘Untold: The Retreat’ which just made the idea of meditation and the retreats far more intimidating and potentially negative!
That is scary. Fortunately we don't *need* meditation teachers to meditate. Just start with one minute of breath. It is amazing.
It is nice to find teachers who work well with what's inside of us, though. Good luck on your journey!
Thanks for this Rosie and Naomi.
The insight that shifted something for me here was giving yourself permission to direct kindness just to yourself, when that’s what you need.
I’ve found myself setting an expectation that I *should* be sending love and kindness to all beings. But I’ve struggled with the loving kindness mantras. I don’t even necessarily believe it when I direct it to myself, so how can I expect to believe in it when directing it to others?
I can see how giving yourself the time and grace to find that love within yourself is the best way to, eventually, be able to direct it to others. Like Naomi, I try to avoid taking shortcuts in my practice. I didn’t realize I was doing that here.
Directing love and kindness from a place of emptiness within will only lead to more suffering. You have to fill your cup up first, put your mask on first, etc.
Thanks for this.
Yes yes yes! Thanks for reading.
I found myself with tears in my eyes at your description of YOTL and Naomi’s work. How lucky we were to have that place as a yoga home for all those years xx
So lucky!
This is beautiful, Rosie and Naomi, and perfectly timed for me. I've am drawn toward the truth of interconnectedness, and wanting to share ideas that invite others to explore themselves in that context. https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/all-clear-are-you-ready
But there's the notion that it's too hard, or too weird, or that we lack the time, or that we are striving to attain something more tangible - a pose, for example, or an election - or even that it's not enough to just hold space for ourselves and the planet (oh, the irony!). And then just today, my husband and I were talking about yoga's origins being that of connection (union) rather than the physical postures we associate with it today. I really appreciate how you've both brought this into focus and created a soft, inviting path for readers to reconsider. Thank you!
A wonderful read, such lovely insights from you both. I loved the bit where Naomi says meditation is about friendliness and if you can sit with yourself and you can sit with others, that is gold ✨
Beautiful article. Thanks for sharing. It's interesting that the same people who say "what's the point of just sitting there" are the ones who can't sit still with themselves for 2 minutes! :D
I like how Naomi put it: (I'm paraphrasing) Learning how to be with yourself, you learn how to be with other people; cultivating the inside allows you to extend that same sensitivity to the outside world.
And yes, meditation as a practice is something you do cultivate with time but it's very much like a superpower, so it's worth it, in my opinion.
I bought Naomi's book because of this article, and to cherish a fellow T1D. It's beautiful in my " tumble room."
What an interesting interview and so glad it’s about yoga and meditation. I had so many misconceptions about yoga before I started practicing six years ago! I was lucky to find a local studio in North London with a similar ethos to Yoga on the lane (in fact one teacher used to teach there as well) and it’s incredibly important to find teachers you resonate with for yoga it’s a bit like therapy: you have to trust those guiding you, whether in a vinyasa class or in deep meditation. I also bought Naomi’s book Yoga for Life when it came out and it received a lot of love during the pandemic, when it was a great physical companion to the online classes. It’s beautifully made too.
Oh nice to find another one of Naomi's readers/students in the comments!
I really loved this. Thanks @Rosie Spinks and Naomi. I’ve practiced meditation for years now but oh so very on and off. I get annoyed and bored and frustrated and aaaall the things that make me not want to do it! I liked the perspectives presented in this article though. I have recently tried to think of meditation like sediment settling - at first it’s all spinning around in my mind but after 5-10 minutes it has settled and the mind is clearer. And yet - I still procrastinate and put it off each day!! 🤦♀️
Omg I LOVE the idea of sediment settling! Thank you for sharing