Why are you committed to sharing your wisdom at the 2020 Victoria Yoga Conference?
My experience at the Victoria Yoga Conference has been one of community. A place that we can all come together, spend time, and make space for so many different people is beautiful. I’m committed to continuing to create a safe space for the sharing of knowledge, love, practices, and processes that provide nurturing for so many.
The theme of the 2020 conference is ‘love is medicine‘. What does this mean to you?
One of the themes that run throughout “Becoming Human” by Jean Vanier is the ideas that ‘you can only be loved as fully as you are known.’ This has been a foundational concept that has informed my life. Vanier says: “To reveal someone’s beauty is to reveal their value by giving them time, attention, and tenderness. To love is not just to do something for them, but to reveal to them their own uniqueness, to tell them that they are special and worthy of attention.” I believe that when we pay attention to, and truly see others. When we meet them where they are and love them for who they are. Then we can bring a little bit more Grace into our lives and world.
What is your morning ritual?
With 3 small children, I’ve struggled to find a morning routine that works. My husband (bless him!) has been the most supportive in making this at all possible. When I wake up, the first thing I do is close my eyes again. Often putting a blanket over my head to block out any stimulation, and take a moment to just turn inward. I say a few words of prayer to start my day with the intention of Grace and love. Then when I actually get up I try to do 2 simple things before attending to my children. The first is to put a hot washcloth over my face and take a deep breath. The second is to make a big cup of tea, I love Winter Warrior by Silk Road. Then I’m able to attend to all the other parts of my own and my kids’ morning with a little more ease and space.
How do you nourish yourself?
I spend time in the kitchen crafting meals with love for my family and self. I turn my face towards the sun in stillness to take a few deep breaths. I wear a wristwatch, leave my phone at home & never bring it into my bedroom. I make eye contact during conversation. I believe nourishment is found in simple moments and practices that happen every day. Self-care is a hot topic right now; so often it’s all bubble baths and candlelight, but in my opinion real nourishment comes from setting careful boundaries and creating strong connections.
How do you build community?
I build community by asking for and remembering names. I think the easiest way to makes someone feel included is to make sure they feel seen. If I can remember their name then I can have confidence that they know I see them too. It’s a simple, but challenging, practice, and I think it makes a huge difference.
Do you have a favourite quote?
“I’d like to suggest that you, individually, seriously consider relaxing and cultivating the skills to meet what arises as it arises without this compulsive need to have everything all planned out… The future is highly unstable, unknown, and both mercurial and in fact not here yet, so why try to have it all figured out? Develop skillful means, lightness of movement, creative ways of dealing with unexpected happenstances. You may well need such abilities, such a capacity…So you’ll have to dive in and move with Faith and Devotion, and a willingness to adjust to the situation as it presents itself. I know you can do it. The question is will you?” – Lee Lozowick
