Wow, this last week did not start off on the right foot. Literally and figuratively. It started by getting locked out of my house with my dog late Sunday night. And while trying to get into the back door of my house, fell off a snow bank and sprained my ankle. When I saw my neighbor's bedroom light on - who I do not know so well, I desperately knocked on his door and asked for help. When neither of us could get my lock to work nor my ankle to move, he offered for me and my dog to stay at his house. I was a bit mortified to accept his offer but I did anyway. That's what desperation will do to you.
"What is the bravest thing you've ever said?" asked the boy. "Help," said the horse. "When have you been at your strongest?" asked the boy. "When I have dared to show my weakness."
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
Charlie Mackesy
Asking for help does not come naturally for me at all nor for most of us. We live in a culture where we are rewarded for being able to do things on our own and needing help makes us weak, vulnerable and incapable. What I learned asking for help does, however, is create connection. My neighbor and his girlfriend took me in, fed my dog fresh bread, iced my ankle and poured me their finest tequila. We ended up staying up late talking and when I finally put my exhausted head down on my borrowed pillow I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and connection. I was so grateful for the care and extended arms of near strangers, and the feeling of embarrassment I felt earlier for asking for help had completely dissipated.
I am so grateful to all of you as well who were so understanding when I had to cancel my classes Monday morning. As the teacher I felt terrible, but when I was met with such kindness, understanding and compassion all that guilt went away.
The truth is we all need to lean on each other from time to time and that is not a bad thing. It makes us more interconnected and interdependent and as humans connection it is the very thing we crave and need the most. Yoga translates as 'union' or 'to yoke' and the practice helps us not only unite more fully with ourselves but also with one other. When we build a yoga community and hold a safe space for each other we can lean on that support system to do the practice and grow as both yogis and human beings. And when we reveal our vulnerable and sometimes needy selves we open ourselves up to more authentic connection - to both ourselves and others.
Amy Owen
Yoga Instructor + Birth Coach
