January 2022 Theme of the Month: Sangha

Over the last two years, many of us may have experienced feelings of isolation and loneliness and even deep despair.  Due to our need to social distance, many have even experienced illness or loss of a loved one alone.  This feeling of separateness can lead us down a dark road of overwhelm and hopelessness.  It is often our fears and anxieties that perpetuate the progression of this way of thinking.  The antidote to this perceived separateness, is to try to find connection with others and with our wider world, for we are never truly alone. 

We have chosen the word sangha, or sacred community, to help us to remember that we are not alone.  In both the Yoga and Buddhist traditions, the word sangha is used to signify community-a group of individuals who share the same values and offer a source of support to each other.  At Verapose Yoga and Meditation House, we are all a collective sangha for each other.  Our entire community of students, teachers, mentors, and providers all serve one anothers' needs through loving kindness.  In our community we hope to provide joy and connection to each other and you, as a unique individual, provide great value to all around you when you join our community.

Whether it be in virtual class or in person, at workshops or special events, or at teacher training or the Yogic Path, we approach each other with a ‘beginners mind’ and can learn, grow and gain support from one another.  Never underestimate the power of your pure presence to those around you.  You bring as much joy and knowledge to your teachers and they do to you.  To strengthen this community connection, please reach out by coming to classes and workshops or even by sending an e-mail sharing your feelings or needs for support.  We would love to hear from you and need you to continue to bring your life giving energy to our space to widen this beautiful connection that we have all started to build. Our sangha at Verapose yoga is a unique group and is important to our larger community.

A sangha is a community in which everyone is working to understand this shift in perspective to opening the mind– that shift in perspective that occurs when we stop attaching to anxieties and fears and we open up to spaciousness and love.  We invite you to take refuge in our sangha so that you can restore your strength, connection, compassion, and confidence. Then in turn you can use that positive energy to assist your family and local community to restore greater connection and hope. 

Try this breath practice to bring you peace:

On the inhale, silently say:  I see that I am part of a sangha, and I am being protected by my sangha.

On the exhale, silently say:  I feel joy.

Taking refuge in the sangha is a very important practice especially for those of us who feel vulnerable, shaky, agitated and hopeless.  With feelings of abandonment and loneliness we can get lost and get carried away. Taking refuge in the sangha is a deep practice.  Allow the sangha to transport you like a boat so that you can cross the ocean of disconnection.  Verapose Yoga and Meditation House is your sangha.  Come take refuge with us.

Namaste friends.  

Joslyn Shehab, RYT200, MD.  

Jos is a Verapose Yoga Instructor, mom of 3 kids and 5 cats and has a true love for being in the great outdoors.