Blog | Embracing Life's Cycles: A Reflection for the New Year

The idea of life moving in cycles is something that resonates deeply with me. It’s a common theme in yoga. As we step into a new year, I was thinking about how this idea shows up in our lives.

The Beginning of New Cycles: Excitement and Uncertainty

You know how in some areas of our lives it might feel like we’ve just begun? Maybe you're learning something new, starting a new job, meeting new people, entered a new relationship or… you have expanded your family! This phase can be exciting, full of bubbly energy that lifts us up, mixed with some nerves and uncertainty that come along with new things.

The Middle: Familiarity and Reconnection

Other parts of life might feel like we're in the middle of a cycle. Perhaps with your work, where you live, or your relationships, you’re in a phase where things are familiar. You know what you’re doing, you feel more confident, and the daily patterns are predictable.
In this phase we can strengthen our commitment. And sometimes it also brings up questions: Why am I doing what I am doing? What matters to me? In these moments that we often truly meet ourselves.

The End of Cycles: Transition and Letting Go

Then, there are those parts of life where we feel like something is coming to an end. Maybe things have shifted, and you’ve lost interest. Perhaps a relationship or job has ended, or you've lost something or someone important. These transitions can be challenging, bringing up grief and the process of learning to let go.
And ooff, this phase can be hard. But it’s also an opportunity for growth, to give yourself permission to truly feel what you feel, without judgment.

Yoga’s Guiding Principles: Steadiness and Non-Attachment

In all of these phases, Yoga offers us two guiding principles; vairagya (steadiness in practice) and aparigraha (non-attachment).

Steady practice: Returning to the Present Moment

Steady practice invites us to return to our practice again and again. Whether we are at the beginning, middle or end of a cycle, Yoga reminds us to bring awareness to this present moment experience. We observe our breath, our body’s sensations, our thoughts, our surroundings.
And as we observe, it brings clarity and insight. Simply observing what’s happening right now allows us to understand where we are and what we need.

Non-attachment: Letting Go and Staying Open

Non-attachment is the practice of letting go of expectations, to resist the tendency to judge or label what we are experiencing. It's so easy to form quick opinions, but the moment we do, we stop being curious and open, to learn and listen. 
Non-attachment frees us from the need to control or define, and invites us to stay open and grounded in the midst of the flow of life.

And finally… Trust the journey

And finally I want to add one more thing: Trust yourself, trust the process, trust the practice. Trust your path!

Whenever our paths cross, I am so happy and grateful to connect, and to continue our journey!