Liz Dobson Yoga

Emotionally full day yesterday. I said goodbye to two of my sweet classes in Lakewood. They are so precious to me, and have taught me so much about myself. The humans in these rooms show up, inspire, and take care of themselves and each other. I feel sad to not be a part of that weekly anymore, but I look forward to subbing and taking classes with them whenever I’m able to. Bittersweet. Lots of love, so many tender hugs, tears and goodbyes. ❤️

Sharon Salzberg: Sometimes in teaching meditation we say, “Sit like a mountain. Sit with a sense of strength and dignity. Be steadfast, be majestic, be natural and at ease in awareness. No matter how many winds are blowing, no matter how many clouds are swirling, no matter how many lions are prowling, be intimate with everything and sit like a mountain.” This is an image of equanimity. We feel everything, without exception, and we relate to it through our own strength of awareness, not through habitual reactions. Practice sitting like a mountain sometime, allowing all images and feelings and sensations to come and go, as you reside in steadfastness, watching it all arise and pass away.

Sometimes in teaching meditation we say, “Sit like a mountain. Sit with a sense of strength and dignity. Be steadfast, be majestic, be natural and at ease in awareness. No matter how many winds are blowing, no matter how many clouds are swirling, no matter how many lions are prowling, be intimate with everything and sit like a mountain.” This is an image of equanimity. We feel everything, without exception, and we relate to it through our own strength of awareness, not through habitual reactions. Practice sitting like a mountain sometime, allowing all images and feelings and sensations to come and go, as you reside in steadfastness, watching it all arise and pass away.

I’m teaching four classes a week, most every week. If you are not local and would like to attend, you can! Two of the classes are hybrid, which means they are also streamed online as well as in-studio.

Let me know if you’d like to join for a yoga practice, slowing down, recentering and self-care. 🪷

A beautiful Source filled day.. 🩵💙

My sacred space. My home away from home. Where I practice on my mat so that I can take it away with me off of my mat and into my life. So much gratitude for this practice, this space and this land.

I’m leading a Restorative Yoga class this evening at Source Yoga from 7-8pm tonight. Please join me if you can! I might be able to get a couple of you in as my guests ❤️

Restorative yoga is a relaxing way to recenter and find some balance - being in gentle postures for 5-7-10 minutes each, supported by as many props as we can tuck you in with 🙃

Subbing 4 classes in one week! If you’d like to practice Gentle Yoga tomorrow morning or Yin Yoga Tuesday morning send me a message. ❤️

Sharing from one of my teachers, Jivana Heyman ❤️

Today I guided 17 beautiful humans through a loving kindness meditation.

In each of my classes I close with meta/loving kindness, and it was extra sweet to share a more full practice with them today. It’s such a powerful meditation to work through, and to move through.

May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be peaceful, may you live a life of ease.

May we..

May I…

May all beings everywhere be happy, healthy, peaceful and live a life of ease. ❤️

Sharing a teaching that was in my inbox (feb 2021) 💙

The Power of Equanimity
February 25, 2021 By Ruth King

At this momentous time in our nation’s history, “equanimity” probably does not describe what most of us are striving for right now. On the contrary, many of us are striving for justice, for healing—some of us, for survival. Is the peace and balance of meditation taking us in the wrong direction?

Not in my understanding. In my experience, equanimity has great power—especially at times like these.

When I reflect on the power of equanimity, I think of those times when we see beyond judgment and self-interest and realize that we are choosing instead of reacting; those times when the pain of injustice is held in our hearts, while the mind is still, steady, and clear; those times when we make small choices that show great care and influence social balance. This is the power of equanimity.

We might begin to understand this power using nature as a metaphor. For example, equanimity can feel internally like a great mountain, with the mind solid and stable, undisturbed by the changing seasons. Or it can be like the ocean, with the mind vast, deep, and immeasurable, undisturbed by whatever swims, floats, or is housed in its waters. Equanimity can be like a strong fire — roaring, engulfing, and transmuting, undisturbed by whatever is thrown into it. Or like immense space — open, allowing, and receiving, undisturbed by the objects that arise and pass away.

As we walk through the coming week, we may want to call on the strength of these elemental inner resources for balance and equipoise. For example, there are times when we will need to stand our ground, strong like a mountain, and observe what emerges, or we may need to add a spark of fiery truth to a situation. Other times, we may need to open and allow more space around the tightness of our worries, or let go and be held by an ocean of love.

In all of these forms, equanimity is awareness so spacious that whatever arises in our mind and heart, whether agreeable or disagreeable, is small and incidental compared to awareness itself.

🌸 Full article: imcw.org/Blog/the-power-of-equanimity