Allowing Yourself
TO BE HUMAN ORIGIN COLUMNIST | Adri Kyser
I Learning to
See the Beauty ORIGIN COLUMNIST | Stacey Rosenberg
Y
ears ago, a friend gave me a book about wabi-sabi, which is both a style of Japanese art and a philosophical outlook on life. It is to see the beauty in the imperfect, the
incomplete, and the asymmetrical. This book first introduced me to the idea that we can see perfection in the imperfect, and the extraordinary in the mundane.
Studying Rajanaka Tantra with Dr. Douglas Brooks, I’ve come to see that Tantra embraces the ideals of wabi-sabi. Tantra illuminates that it is our flaws that make us uniquely, perfectly ourselves. Life is both beautiful and messy. We don’t come in tidy packages. Our path is never straight. We are inherently imperfect.
It takes skill and insight though, to appreciate the perfect in the imperfect or see beauty through the flaws. In many ways, it runs counter to the way we are reared. Can you see how a failed relationship helped you become who you are now? Or how a career path that didn’t succeed was a steppingstone to something better? These experiences are not failures, but rather your own personal adventures that ask you to turn inward to find strength, courage, and other virtues that you need to cultivate in order to live your dharma. I believe we are more successful in life by not labeling these experiences as good or bad, but rather simply seeing them as part of the journey to our true self.
When we stop seeking machine-made perfection and that which society deems as success, we can begin to see our quirks, mistakes, and wounds as markers of our beauty in the same way that we might value the subtle variations of handmade items, see the splendor in nature or the magnificence in an antique that has aged with the seasons. As Douglas Brooks says, “Where perfection ends, beauty begins.”
Stacey Rosenberg is a certified Anusara® yoga instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the globe. Her classes are dynamic and playful and provide a fun, safe, and nurturing environment that invites students to move deeply into their own hearts and live in an exalted way.
WWW.NAMASTACEY.COM
78 |
OriginMagazine.com
’m sure somewhere along the road, sometime during our lives, we’ve all met someone or a group of people that inspired us. In the way we perceive them, they seem to have all the great qualities a person could ever have. If they have any negative qualities, they sure don’t show them. We admire their courage and inner strength to go after their dreams and goals. We find ourselves inspired by their stories, their lives, triumphs and successes.
In the past, I questioned whether I could ever have that kind of courage and strength, if I would ever feel successful and full of the positive qualities these people seem to embody. Several times I’ve been afraid to grow, to dream big, and to create something new because of how I would be perceived, and the possibility that I would fail or be rejected.
Now I realize everyone has problems, flaws, and may even feel at some point or another the same way I do. After all, we are all human beings, and the nature of being human is to be imperfect.
I truly believe that in order to grow, evolve, and transform, we must allow ourselves the time to be human and be open to new experiences. Let’s erase the word “failing” from our vocabulary and realize that the way we perceive experiences is what makes them successful or not so successful. It takes courage and strength to step out of the comfort zone and go after your dreams and goals. If you make a bad decision or things don’t work out like you hoped, it won’t be the end of the world. Besides, what does not kill you will make you stronger, right? The more you try and go after what you want, the closer you’ll get to your achievements. If you never try, how can you expect for things to happen?
Give yourself permission to be human. We all learn from our mistakes, we all have fallen once or twice (or more). The key is to get up, dust yourself off and continue to move forward. Trust yourself and see the good qualities you possess. When you find yourself concentrating on your flaws, take a moment to state all the good qualities you have. Everyone has great qualities, and that includes you.
When you allow yourself to be human, you are also allowing others to be human as well. This creates a more understanding, considerate and kind environment. The process starts with you. It may not be easy, it may be scary, but it is worth a try. You may be surprised with how your perception begins to change and new possibilities begin to flourish.
ADRI KYSER is a leading Vinyasa, Prana Flow® yoga & Power Pilates teacher with over 6 years + 1600 hrs of training combined. Adri’s main style of yoga is based and inspired by her teacher Shiva Rea. You can find Adri leading classes, workshops, teacher trainings and retreats in the Dallas area & abroad.
INNERBEAUTYYOGA.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164