The Sun and Its Shadow, Part 2: Thoughts on Resilience

The interesting thing to me about keeping the same intention for a while is that it begins to evolve, taking on new shapes and meanings.

My intention for Spring has been: the Sun and its Shadow complete the work. I often check back in with this intention, especially in relation to my yoga practice and offerings at the moment—among these are Doom Metal Goat Yoga and an upcoming Resilience Training Series.

As I first set this intention and was mulling it over, I didn't fully appreciate its connection to these offerings. (In fact, it probably fits better here than with Jung's ideas and "shadow work"—or maybe it just seems that way to me since I don't fully buy into that concept, but anyway...)

Over the years, a continuing theme that comes up when I offer Doom Metal Goat Yoga is the idea of opposites. Or, as I usually phrase it while I'm teaching, things that might seem to be in opposition but which really work together to create a fuller, more complete, and whole experience. For example, many folks say that goats and yoga shouldn't go together, and that doom metal and yoga are at odds with one another. But here's what I think: these elements, when combined, do not cancel each other out, they don't negate one another—they are additive, they work together to create a unique and valid experience. The goats introduce their own spirits of peace, play, and chaos, which to me represents the natural world—something we can't control, something which is messy or "too much," and which might even deter some folks. But for those who are willing to embrace something a bit wild, a bit chaotic, a bit noisy even, and who are open to combining that experience with their yoga practice, I honestly believe we end up in a place that is more realistic, rather than escapist.

I think this push/pull (sun/shadow) "dichotomy" actually mirrors what most of us are experiencing in our day-to-day lives: something which is not completely peaceful, not completely still or silent, not perfectly aesthetic. Instead we're just doing our best to make time and space for our practice and for our joy—the things that are meaningful to us amidst chaos, distraction, confusion, and sometimes even discomfort or pain. And these "opposites" rarely happen independently of one another; the sunny parts of life happen concurrently and DESPITE the shadowy parts of life (...not to mention all the grey area that falls outside this false dichotomy).

This is where resilience comes in—because despite the difficulty and exhaustion that comes with being a human in this world, we have to keep going.

That's why Weird Warrior Yoga Group is putting together our Resilience Training Series: two community-centered workshops designed for centering, healing, & embodiment.

Weekend 1

Rising: Body Mind Action

Saturday April 26th 2-3pm

Trish & Taylor co-leading

This session is for folks feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or alone, but who still want to make change, take action, and reconnect with purpose. Grounded in yoga philosophy and mutual support.

[Weekend 1 Sign-Up]

Weekend 2

Rooting: Integrating Therapy, Mindfulness, & Yoga

Sunday May 4th 1:30-2:30pm

Brittany & Taylor co-leading

This second session weaves together nervous system education, therapeutic practice, and embodied mindfulness to help you nourish your body, mind, and spirit and root into your resilience.

[Weekend 2 Sign-Up]

Please join Trish, Brittany, and me this weekend and/or next at Austin Yoga Lounge to continue this conversation. And if you can't, be on the lookout for more blog posts, gatherings, resources, and tools on this topic...it's been occupying a lot of my brain space lately!

Til then, take good care.

~Taylor