Savoring Life as a Sacred Journey

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to teach at Maine Yoga Fest. As most of you know, the majority of my regular teaching is online these days and it was so amazing to spend time in-person sharing these practices. It was also great to see how many people were curious about Vedic chanting! Thank you to everyone who organized, volunteered and attended this event. It was incredible.

On the second day, I co-hosted a session with my dear friend and colleague Ashley Flowers. The intention was to gather and have a conversation about sādhana. For anyone not familiar with the term, sādhana refers to a daily spiritual practice. Everyone around the circle spoke about what this meant for them.

Now, if there is one thing I enjoy talking about even more than chanting, it's sādhana. I loved hearing about what each person felt their challenges and successes were in keeping a daily routine, and all the different perspectives on inviting a connection to the sacred in each moment, even beyond a focused practice. Lighting a candle, making morning cacao, and breathing into a full-bodied hug from a child are all invitations to sit in divine space.

In Vedic tradition, yajña is a ritualistic fire ceremony where a variety of symbolic offerings are thrown into the flames. My teacher has spoken about the underlying symbolism of each person's life as a yajña.

What if you were able to do view your whole life as a sacred journey and everything you did was an offering?

Would that change the way you approach your day?

Would it change how you interact with people (even the one's you didn't like)?

Would it change the way you care for yourself?

Would it change the way you feel about challenges if you knew they were part of a bigger picture that maybe wasn't even about you?

Because you are not alone in this. Your life is interconnected with every other life on this planet whether you realize that or not. And the choices you make, those offerings that you throw on your fire, they go into the collective atmosphere and affect things, all kinds of things.

To be present enough to remember this in each moment, we do need to spend time sitting still with ourselves, building those muscles of focus that reign in the mind. But, what if your sādhana, wasn't confined to segregated moments on the meditation cushion? What if your sādhana could be the legs that carry you through your day?

Anyway, the conversation was a beautiful reminder to everyone there, that spiritual practice can look different for each one of us. Each one of us is a unique individual evolving in our own time and space and opening up to new layers of wisdom exactly when we are ready, no sooner, no later. The common denominator is connection. Connection to our Self and connection to the greater force that connects us all. And we need this right now, more than ever.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your sādhana here are some tips:

Start small ~ We often sabotage ourselves with high expectations. The truth is, quality is more important than quantity. Set a goal that is going to be doable even on your busiest days and then exceed it when you feel like doing more.

Know your why ~ If you don’t know why you’re sitting down for a spiritual practice, it’s going to be very challenging to keep it going. Figure out your intention and make it a strong one. What do you want to achieve?

Do it with others ~ Practicing in community with like-hearted people can help you show up for yourself, even on days when you practice alone. Find a sangha that shares a similar philosophy and lean in to the unspoken energy of support.

If you need help getting started, reach out for a few private sessions. Sādhana coaching is dear to my heart because I know how challenging AND life-changing it can be.