antonellasjourneys

This is not my home. Not where I grew up. No childhood memories here. I am not in any school yearbook. This is not even my home away from home. This is a place where I feel how far I am from home. People don’t speak my language.

I love being here. But what about my son?

Four years ago, my son was born. In this country, where he’ll most likely grow up. He will speak their language. He will remember these trees and mountains. He will be at home in this land. He will have friends and experience his first love here.

Will he love it here? I don’t know.

For now, we love each other in two languages, in two cultures. He tries to reach me, to touch me, to remind me that, he is just a kid. That, besides all the beautiful things that I want to give him, he just wants to play with me and hug me good night.

This is how I landed on my yoga mat this morning. With these thoughts and feelings. A yoga home practice can seem scary and uncomfortable. It was for me. Then, it became incredibly rewarding in many surprising ways. This is the sequence that happened: the focus became outer hips.

Pranayama: uddyiana in straddle 4 times

warm up: Knee pile forward fold 5 to 8 breaths

Seated spinal twist 5 to 8 breaths

Sun salutations A (5 times)

Dolphin one leg up at wall  8 breaths

Classic Sun salutations (5) as we practice in Forrest Yoga

Sun salutations B (5 x each side)

Sun salutations with variations:

Lunge knee up

Twisting lune knee down

Pigeon

repeat other side

Lunge knee up with arms in archer

Pyramid

Twisting triangle

Apex pose(s):

Twisting Pigeon to foot

Spilt (if warm enough)

I ended up in this pose listening to Chris Cornell sing ” I will always love you” by Witney Houston. This feeling will stay with me today. This is what moving thoughts and fears have created in my body today: that in spite of all which we think we are or are not, we always have the ability to choose love.

Get on your mat and listen to the noise of your thoughts and fears. Let it happen and release back to the earth. I feel that I cannot lift unless I feel the ground. Lift up from fears and shields. Grounding can be painful and involves reaching down low. It’s just like being home. Painful and sweet.

Namaste.