Dan, Sebastopol Group
Our time with COVID has been a little less hectic than pre-COVID times. My family always spent most of our time doing family-centered activities, so it wasn’t a big challenge to adapt to spending more time at home. We are deeply fortunate that our livelihood was not impacted. I used the pandemic as an opportunity to finally omit garlic and onions from our food, although I still bake treats too frequently! I have done a lot of work on our home to use up some excess energy.
For an introverted person with a yoga practice, the pandemic has been fine. We live near New York City, one of the rajasic places of the world. In the early days of the pandemic, I immediately noticed less transference of stress energy from others, because we stayed apart and there was less opportunity. This was supportive and educational.
When I spoke with others outside of Jivana Yogaland, some were deeply suffering from a lack of socialization. Others were unable to adapt to schedule changes without great agitation. Yet our family mainly has stayed steady. Thank you, Acharya! And thank you to Carly, my wife, who naturally embodies the positivity I strive for in practice.
Though the external world seems to be topsy turvy, the currents that govern practice and lived experience are omnipresent. The world makes noise. People get caught up in pursuits and emotions. Time in nature supports. Good foods help and incorrect foods hinder. The summer garden we planted flourished despite my lack of gardening knowledge and skill. The winter bird feeder attracts nuthatches, cardinals, juncos, mourning doves, blue jays, finches, sparrows and woodpeckers – just like last year. Our kids are beautiful and sweet and crazy. Silence feels good.
We all experience what we’re required to experience, and gratitude for the opportunity is always available. COVID brought a different world with some new challenges but from a step back the underlying themes don’t change very much.