Precious moments

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

And for sure I smile.
It’s Easter weekend and for the first time in a while I feel at peace. Peaceful to take the time and share some reflections.
I have been privileged to join a friend on her journey in creating a sacred and safe space for mindful self exploration, in a private environment. Having occupied a variety of spaces through the years, I am doubtful of its importance.
It is for sure adding to your experience if the space you are in is pure, clean and neat, quiet and comfortable. Free from stress or feeling of insecurity, undisturbed. But we also know that such a space is also supposed to be inside of us, so even if the physical space we are in is not of critical importance, it is, for sure, a step closer to the peace you want to experience on the inside.
I am dwelling on it because I overheard someone commenting that it was almost too good, a space created from money. But really, is it the money that creates the space? I would like to think that the intention behind the space, and the love put into it, is of greater importance and that is the actual creator. Not the money spent on the items, or the space. Just as money can not buy you spiritual experience, surely money should not be able to remove it either, or?
To me it would be the same as questioning that one instructor differs from the other due to the money they have invested in their education and practice, and not for the individual, the personality and his or her intentions. Do you understand what I am aiming at?

A lot of our practice is about removing stress in our lives, but distractions and judgmental ideas are always prone to reach our mind quicker telling us what is “right” and what is not. A mind that tricks us into thinking we don’t have time for yet one more thing, in the midst of work, studies, husband, children, parents, friends etc. This is ironic, as that is the only thing we have for sure, time right here right now. THE only time that actually exists.
I often loose myself in the complexity of this statement. Obviously we need to be prepared for the future, otherwise I am sure we would become destructive. Surely we can make a plan for a compromise, living in the present moment with a zest for the next moment, and next … a zest for life as it unfolds!

Last weekend, I like to think a zest for life was created in that very present moment.
It was a thoughtfully decorated space in a divine environment, loving attention to detail and to us entering the space; sisterhood.
A space where distractions and clutter were already removed, replaced by loving attention to detail and our convenience.
I was merely there to create a moment with a few asanas which was an easy task after the mindfully guided meditation and talks.
In a normal session I take five or ten minutes to settle, in this case we had an hour. Even if a few were acquainted with yoga, only one woman was used to my way of sharing. This was comforting, as it takes a bit of time before I am able to connect to the energies in a room, to be able to share what I am. Then I knew hers. As instructors or facilitators, we have to meet people where they are, not where we are. And that is a lot easier when the people you are connecting to have detached themselves from clutter and judgements in life and can access the bottomless source of energy inside themselves. So, the brief session of yoga asanas was the reason for my smile and it was sheer joy to be able to share that present moment.
Because that is what I do. I share with you the smile and the joy when I meet you where you are, right there, right then.

I hope we meet again. Until then enjoy the present moment and smile …