Lessons I Learned About Anger

Last week we witnessed a historic moment here in the States when Ketanji Brown Jackson was the first Black woman in our nation's history to have a confirmation hearing to sit on the Supreme Court. For many of us, women in general and Black women in particular it was a moment of pride. As I read through my social media feeds, in addition to reading posts of pride and hope I encountered posts that were angry regarding the way Judge Brown-Jackson was treated by some of the Senators. Oddly, I wasn't angry! And today during the final class in a series with Rod Stryker he helped me realize why my reaction was different: the practice of Yoga. Here's how applying yoga principles can help you move pass anger too!

1. First, acknowledge that all feelings, including anger, are gifts from the Divine. Often times, societies have changed for the better when someone got angry enough with ill treatment and conditions to call for change. It's ok to be angry but we hurt our own spirit when we choose to live in a constant state of anger.

2. Once you acknowledge the anger, take action so that you can let it go and move forward. An immediate thing that you can do is simply pause and breathe. Feel into your body, notice your breath and allow your thoughts to slow down.

3. Know that everyone is made of both shadow and light, including you! Or as my other teacher, Douglas Brooks, says: we are all every character in every story, the demons and the Devis. So be compassionate even to those you think have wronged you.

4. Meditate. Specifically when you are feeling angry meditate on whether the cause of the disturbance is you or the other person(s) or events.

5. In the spirit of point one remember this quote from Rod Stryker: It's human to have emotions. It's animalistic to be ruled by them.

Now, let's go out and be a positive force for change. The mission of To Embody Yoga is to inspire empathy and compassion for all beings even the ones with whom we don't agree.

I hope that you now feel inspired to join me in class this week. We're practicing live on Monday at 12:30 PM and on Thursday at 9:00 AM. You can register here: https://www.toembodyyoga.com/offerings

If you can't make it for live practice, please check out a replay and/or meditation here: https://www.toembodyyoga.com/online_store

Om Shanti Om,

Julie