Dear One,

Maybe because my wonderful therapist is Californian, we came up with a pool metaphor. It goes something like this.

I am a pool. When my filtration system is working, my water stays relatively clear. When my filtration system is backed up, or offline, the water gets murky.

Sometimes I neglect my filtration system and it stops working well.

Sometimes life happens in a way that outpaces my filtration system.

Sometimes I try to throw a tarp over the pool and yell "Please just STOP and give me a chance to catch up with all this sh*t!"

And sometimes other things are needed, like learning how to swim in murky water, or practicing patience and acceptance with my filtration system, or calling in a support crew.

May this long-winded metaphor be a reminder to tend to your filtration system.

Things like putting the damn self-care into your calendar, placing the journal and pen by your bed, making the appointments in advance, finding ways to substantively catch up with your mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

May this be a reminder to remember what you need, and a nudge to negotiate creatively with reality to make inroads towards meeting that need.

If mindful yoga is part of your filtration system, here are upcoming ways to practice together:

This Friday 5/14 at 5pm ET (or via recording): a re-calibrating 90min Flow & Restore practice, hosted online via JP Centre Yoga
Fridays in June (or via recording): weekly 60min Embodied Self Care: Flow & Restore class series
Also on Fridays in June (or via recording): 16-hour professional training in Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapy (this includes Embodied Self Care class series)

Finally, I know many of you are feeling the depth of the Covid crisis in India, and finding ways to honor the cultural interconnection with your yoga practice. By now I'm sure you've seen many opportunities to donate. Here are links compiled by Susanna Barkataki if you're looking to send some support.

If this newsletter inspires anything for you, I'd love to know. Virtual life can sometimes feel like speaking into the void ... I'd love to know what lands.

With a big breath, appreciation, and a virtual high five from my little heart to yours,

~Alex

PS: If you do the Instagram thing, let's connect at @alexbauermeisteryogatherapy. And for some music to help you ride the waves of this time, check out my public playlists on Spotify under abauermeister.

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