open to grace: accept what is and own your power

Given that it’s a new year and I am a new teacher at a studio here in Texas, I thought this would be a great opportunity to spend a few weeks taking things back to the basics of my teaching roots. The studio I teach at has teachers from a variety of different backgrounds, but I am the only one with a background in Anusara. So, I figured  what better way to start than spending some time on the Universal Principles of Alignment. Last week I talked about the first principle which is Open to Grace.

I’ve been practicing Anusara yoga for about seven years and teaching on and off for the last five. Over this time I have found my relationship with Open to Grace has been morphed, molded and at times turned upside-down. In preparing for this class I took some time to really think about what Open to Grace means to me now and what it’s meant to me over the years. In my soul searching I found a whole list of what Open to Grace means, but what I found most relevant in my life right now acceptance for what is.  Not only accepting what is but also acknowledging and accepting that only I have the power to make the most of it. I have the choice to turn to fear or to love and gratitude.

Over the past year I have gone through a series of pretty radical changes in my life including moving from Utah to Texas and ending a five year career in finance. While all these changes have been empowering and amazing learning experiences, change is still tough whether you were ready for it or not.  One thing I have found in this transition is it’s easy for me to go to fear and to not accept what is. Fear of getting off to a slow start, of failing, fear of not being good enough, or not knowing the right thing to say and my personal favorite; fear of looking/sounding stupid. Even as I am writing this post I find feelings of fear creeping up.

It's during these times I have to pause. Take a deep breath. Let it out. And remember what I've heard my teacher Tiffany Wood again and again, "you may not be in control, but you are always in charge." 

​The power to make the most of the moment you are in resides within you and only within you. Opening up to this knowing and accepting your power is Opening to Grace.