How can we can deal more effectively with life’s disruptions?

As a Yoga teacher I am many times faced with the prejudice that, since I am on a spiritual path, I should get upset. That if something comes up, I should just take hold of my emotions and switch to the positive.

But there is value in any emotion we have!

As Tara Barch says, we need to use RAIN: recognise, accept, investigate and nurture.

In a situation where we feel bothered or upset, it is natural to first be with our experience. Eventually, it feels right to start releasing it. Once we’ve released something, it feels right to replace it with something useful and positive.

There is no set time in which this trajectory will occur, it depends on the person and the situation. In some cases, you are able to realise what is bothering you quickly, and within a few minutes, you are able to let it go and shift your focus to another better thing.

Then again, sometimes something really hits you hard – such as a shocking loss – and it takes months or even years before you feel it is appropriate to let go, and then allow yourself to be embraced.

In this video, I am sharing how a disturbance from my neighbour ruined my evening and disturbed my sleep. then in the morning, I did this short Yoga practice which was instrumental to set me up well for the rest of the day.

Enjoy and let me know what you think of it.