July 15, 2024
This month’s blog post is written by Pye Marshall
Sweet Summer Slow Down
As the summer sun reaches its zenith, there's a familiar energy that can make me feel both vibrant and overwhelmed, simultaneously.
I often feel pressured to fill these long, warm days with endless activity: hiking, day-tripping to Granite Basin, gathering with friends, camping, tending to an outdoor garden, and more… It’s like, I hate to watch a beautiful day pass by without seizing it in some form. Sound familiar?
Yea, I notice it every year.
But the reality is, it’s impossible to stay so active for so much of our time (hint: if you’ve already started to draw the parallel between this and your yoga practice, you’re onto something).
As with our life off the mat, we can’t practice on the mat without dualities and balance - we can’t have yang without yin, we can’t steep in the glory of light without the lessons of dark, we can’t pour from our cup without also filling it.
So, I’m here to talk about the beauty of s l o w i n g d o w n.
Here’s a Pye-style questions for you…
When was the last time you allowed yourself to simply be?
To sit down with a good book for the purpose of absorbing it (see: reading vertically, not horizontally). Or to listen to nature and see how many individual sounds you can identify? Or to enjoy a slow, mindful yoga practice rather than an ego-driven, comparative one?
Our culture often equates busyness with productivity, but true productivity almost always comes from rest and reflection. Remember, even nature has a rhythm of growth and rest… consider the daily routine of flowering plants. They open their petals during daylight hours to maximize sunlight absorption for photosynthesis, then close them at night to reduce water loss and conserve energy until the next day. Moderation is innate.
Enter, the concept of Brahmacharya (brah-muh-CHAR-ee-uh), most simply interpreted as moderation or conserving energy. It's about finding balance and not overextending ourselves, which is especially crucial during the fiery bustle of summer.
Slowing down doesn't have to mean doing nothing; it’s just a way of being intentional with your energy. Like, choosing activities that nourish your soul, balancing “doing” equally with resting, and taking time to fill your cup.
One of my favorite ways to slow down is through a restorative yoga practice.
Practice Brahmacharya, and schedule a Rest & Restore, Yin, or Breathe & Be class. It’s an opportunity (or excuse *wink*) to unroll your mat in a quiet, comforting atmosphere.
To take your practice of conserving energy up a notch, choose to sign up for one of these slow classes instead of booking your usual hot, powerful class. Then, hold yourself accountable to show up in a space where you are encouraged to breathe deeply, let go of any urgency, and feel your body meaningfully unwind.
I also find journaling to be a powerful tool to slow down the mind (as you likely know by now). Sit down with the following prompts to dive into how you can expand on your practice of moderation and energy conservation:
What does slowing down look like for me?
How can I incorporate more moderation into my daily life for the remainder of this summer?
Take some time to write your thoughts, without judgment or expectation (hint: journaling is best done “stream of consciousness” style… allow your pen to move continuously and just see what insights emerge).
So, I petition we use the rest of summer as an opportunity to cultivate a slower, more mindful pace. A rebuttal, of sorts, against the status-quo… to embrace the power of peace and a sweet summer slow down through the practice of Brahmacharya.
Remember, the most meaningful moments often happen when we remind ourselves to be present and truly savor life.
Thanks for reading & for sharing in this human experience.
With love,
Pye