Arise from the mud.
Transcend from struggle.
Let's get settled into the space together with a nice deep breath in through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
Let the shoulders drop,
Eyes close,
Relax into your body.
Breathe in through the nose,
Exhale through the nose.
Inhale through the nose,
Exhale through the nose.
In yoga practice,
We often reference the lotus flower.
It's a beautiful,
Glorious flower that grows from the mud.
We often overlook the beauty in the mud,
The decomposing,
Breaking down,
And messiness.
We tend to overlook the things that are not pretty,
Surreal,
Or awe-inspiring.
There's risk in growing from the pain.
We all have pain.
What we do from it is a choice.
Choose to transform.
Remember a time you were knee-deep in the mud.
You wanted to disappear,
Escape from the pain.
You saw no way out.
Breathe in,
Breathe out.
The whisper of fear spoke to you to run,
Escape,
Leave.
I bring to you the whisper of hope.
There is another way.
Breathe in,
Breathe out.
It's time to wake up.
Open your heart,
Your soul,
Your entire being,
And feel.
I'm here with you.
You're safe,
You're loved.
Breathe in,
Breathe out.
Notice the many muddy moments that led you here,
Right here with me,
When the beauty of life felt as if it was swept away like a withered flower.
Inhale,
Exhale.
You felt depleted,
Exhausted,
Empty.
And feel.
This was the mud of unworthiness,
Anger,
And resentment.
And from the mud,
You are transforming.
Inhale,
Exhale.
The mud of the lotus contains nutrients,
Sustenance,
And nourishment for the roots.
The roots provide strength for your growth.
Inhale,
Exhale.
Deep in the mud,
Mind,
Body,
And spirit feel broken.
More pain,
More fear,
More anxiety.
Inhale,
Exhale.
Use this anxiety,
Self-doubt,
Unworthiness,
Pain,
The very things that break you down to help you blossom and transform.
Inhale,
Exhale.
Without the deep pain of unworthiness,
The desire to escape the pain of life,
You would not take the risk to become your authentic self.
You would not have blossomed from the mud.
Inhale,
Exhale.
The decision to stay and ask for guidance,
Surrender to see another way,
Allows your heart to open to love and find courage.
Inhale,
Exhale.
The essence of the lotus is in the seed,
Nourished from the mud,
Yet it blossoms into its magnificence.
The essence of your human spirit lies within you.
Like a seed in the mud,
It is nourished and transformed.
Inhale,
Exhale.
This is your opportunity to wake up.
Now is the time to shift your self-image.
Stop being the superhero for others and be the superhero for yourself.
Rather than thinking that you need to change who you are,
Realize that you need to stop trying to be someone that you are not.
Inhale,
Exhale.
You are transforming.
Within the mud is risk,
Fear,
And faith.
Through compassion,
Commitment,
And kindness,
It is time to love your life again,
Transformed from the mud.
The human spirit is forever transforming.
If you allow it,
Welcome it,
And embrace it,
Even when knee deep in the mud.
Stay present.
Breathe.
Extend the spine,
Sitting up nice and tall.
Take a deep breath in and exhale.
Feel your feet on the earth,
Roots from your feet extending into the earth.
Notice the mud surrounding your feet.
The mud surrounding the roots connecting to your feet.
The mud contains your struggles,
Self-doubt,
Fears.
Notice how the mud brings light and nourishment to your roots.
Let that light move up through your feet,
To your legs,
Up to your hips,
Up into your belly,
And into your heart.
In your heart is the seed of your magnificence.
See it blooming as the lotus flower.
Allow it to bring a smile on your lips.
Nourish the light in your heart with your breath.
Breathe in and exhale.
Inhale,
Exhale.
Inhale,
Exhale.
And gently open your eyes.
From the mud,
You are transformed.
The love,
The peace,
And the light fills your heart,
Your mind,
And your soul.
With beauty,
Grace,
And love.
Namaste.
