It’s finally March!  It does my heart good to see the snow melting and the red wing black birds at the feeders.  I could do without seeing a winter’s worth of Miss Thora’s morning constitutionals when I open the front door, but . . .  Spring is a process, just like everything else.

We started a new yoga series this week, focusing on strength and all the ways it can manifest itself.  We began class by chanting the Gayatri Mantra.  The Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to the sun and speaks to the energy within everyone and everything.  The strength of the sun warms us, feeds us, comforts us, melts snow for us (way to go, sun!) It literally brings us the energy that fuels us, so that we can radiate our own powerful energy.

Today was keep your hips level, balance one-footed on a block and don’t worry about falling day — fun! We were encouraged to play; to not worry about falling, to not worry that one side of our bodies would potentially be different than the other. I realized today that there is mental strength in not worrying about an outcome, just as there is physical strength in keeping your frame strong and lifted.

What can we learn about strength and all its iterations? There are many ways we can be strong.  Lifting something heavy takes strength, and makes your muscles feel strong when you are finished.  Stepping outside your comfort zone and speaking in public can make you feel strong.  Doing something you don’t want to do, but coming through the other side can make you strong.

I think if we can see all the strengths, we can be better for it, and have more strength to share with others who may be needing a little boost.

An English translation of the Gayatri Mantra:

May we recognize the energy that is present everywhere, in everything and everyone; May we channel that energy toward the well-being, illumination, and enlightenment of all; May we remember that we are and always will be a part of this powerful energy.  Peace.