The last 4 months of Covid-19 physical distancing have provided ample time and stimulus for self-reflection. It’s fascinating to watch the roller coaster of thoughts and emotions change when the scenery of life stays the same. When part of the equation is constant, it is easier to see the changes, and it’s clear the change is in our own minds. I’ve been intrigued to see the ways in which we globally ride the waves together - even when apart we still seem to cycle together, influencing, triggering, reacting, and supporting one another in similar experiences at the same time. If we needed further proof of our interconnection as living beings, we’ve had the evidence presented clearly now on a grand scale.
In this interim of collective enforced mindfulness, my thoughts have focused on a big personal decision: do I take the risk and move countries in the middle of an uncertain Brexit transition and a global pandemic, or do I play it safe and stay put? There really was no contest. My rationale mind tried to marshal good arguments, but what felt like my deeper knowing said GO! I never really doubted it. The time had come to grow. That’s how I think of this move we have just made from England, where I longed to live since I was a young girl, to the Netherlands which I have loved since my first visit as an adult. Seeds get planted in us and sometimes they take a long time to sprout, but when they do, the best thing we can do is to nurture them.
Uprooting was not easy. Hard things happened, but I experienced them as further evidence that this was the right thing to do and there was no turning back. Not yet anyway. Greenwich, London, England, the UK have given me a rich home with opportunities and a life I could never have imagined before. I am so grateful to Elizabeth Stanley, Graham Burns, The Life Centre, Yogacampus, the Blackheath Bookclub, and the many friends, colleagues, clients, and students who have enriched my life and helped me live what feels like my dharma. I have no regrets except that I did not travel more. I hope to remedy that in the year in to come if travel becomes something we can safely do again. I will travel back to the UK too - to maintain friendships, teaching, and my life long feeling of belonging there.
For now twin desires to learn and live in a place that nourishes our souls have brought us to Nederland. We can already feel our roots happily settling in this green and blossoming land of forests, fields, bikes, and sea. The recent challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic to transition to online teaching means I can be even more of a global citizen and live where I like. I can maintain connections and build new ones with people around the world. I can also build and strengthen local connections here. I look forward to learning Dutch, experiencing and sharing yoga with new students, clients, and colleagues, and continuing to be a life long student of this holistic way of understanding life, the universe, and everything.
If you are local or long distance, please do get in touch if you are interested in live online yoga classes, personalized yoga therapy, or yoga workshops integrating yoga philosophy and practice with psychology. Please also get in touch if you want to join the Facebook Live Sanskrit mantras chanting page. Watch this space. More to come. I can hardly wait.
