svadhyaya - study of self

These are a few of the hundreds of photos I’ve taken of my body along the last three years as it has taken in various inputs and offered feedback in return.

I say “my body”, but I also mean me. I offer myself input, and I respond.

My “self” is many things and one thing all at the same time. I know that there is a part of me that observes, a part that listens, a part that acts, a part that responds.

This three year journey didn’t start three years ago but took shape from before I was born. It curved through my first footsteps, gymnastics, childhood sports… a short dance career, two decades of yoga practice and took a new turn around September of 2019.

I became intrigued by all the things my various body/breath/mind practices were not “reaching” or getting in touch with; those things living just below the radar that didn’t change despite my best attempts at addressing them.

So I slowed down.
Stopped pushing.
Listened more intently.
Allowed space.
Allowed time.
Kept listening.

I’m still here listening. There is so much yet to be revealed.

This is the work that I have fallen in love with, or may better yet be defined as the work that I was always looking for.

We are infinite stories and layers.

We are creations of our circumstances but also so much more of our own making than we give ourselves credit for.

What if we just let ourselves really listen?

What would our body tell us if we allowed it the space, time and silence it needs to be heard?