Costumes, Candy and Quiet Courage

Happy Halloween Season! As some of you know - I am a huge fan of Halloween. 

I'm mostly here for the dressing up and candy - but there is also something exciting and interesting about a holiday that encourages us to lean into mischief, and maybe face some fears.  In honor of my favorite holiday - our theme for October is Courage.   Specifically, we are exploring the sanskrit translation Dhaiyra.   Defined as moral courage, Dhaiyra is the quiet, steady strength to remain patient and steadfast in the face of discomfort.  What we love about this definition is that this type of quiet courage is available to all of us.    It doesn't  require flashy bravery or sudden acts of heroism - it can simply be  strength and persistence in the face of difficulty - without fleeing.  

For this type of courage  - Yoga asana is a profound training ground.  When we hold a posture that challenges our balance, our strength, or our breath, we are asked to stay present with the discomfort rather than escape it. In doing so, we embody the truth that resilience, and moral courage is cultivated one moment at a time. Each time we breathe through intensity on the mat, we build the inner knowing that we are capable of doing hard things. This embodied practice of patience in difficulty translates into life itself, where courage often means simply staying steady, grounded, and true in the midst of challenge. can simply be  strength and persistence in the face of difficulty - without fleeing.  

This Halloween Season, in addition to the costumes and candy - lets cultivate our courage! 

Halloween 2024 - Spidey and Spider-mom -

This magic 8 ball was SUPPOSED to be born on Halloween - but came early ;)!