My yoga teacher’s three-year-old son joined in our Zoom class one Saturday morning, sitting quietly in the opening poses. When he took off around the patio on his Big Wheel tricycle after a couple of minutes, I was admittedly relieved — it seemed so out of character for a little boy to be still — but I was also impressed that he stayed mostly quiet as Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga maintained her focus on leading us through the class.
I spoke with Jade about it afterwards.
It’s amazing what kids absorb. He watches what I do and we talk about not letting feelings control you. He’s learned to say what he feels instead of letting emotions get to him most of the time.
Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga
Breathing can change how you feel
An even bigger lesson revealed itself when her son was at his grandmother’s house one evening.
My mother-in-law called to tell me that he’d helped her through a kind of panic attack by suggesting she take some deep breaths. I was so proud of him for knowing that breathing can change how you feel. I hope that he carries that knowledge with him as he grows.
Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga
Changing from the inside
Changing from the inside out is part of Jade’s approach to yoga.
You will get more flexible. You will get stronger. Maybe you’ll even lose weight. But when you connect inside of yourself, you will leave a yoga class feeling different. Through this physical practice, we can change from the inside out.
Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga
That would be me. If my Apple watch doesn’t give me credit for the activity, it’s as if I’ve done nothing.
Sitting with the stillness
Jade asks us to bring our thoughts in from the day as we gather on our mats, and she suggests that we stay in our final resting pose, or shavasana, for a few minutes after class ends.
Let yourself simply sit with yourself in stillness. Listen to the silence and let your soul whisper to you in those moments.
Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga
Letting go your grasp on outside things
She understands how challenging this can be, especially when life overwhelms us and we feel at sea. The pandemic, family, health, finances, we all have real stressors to deal with.
I know this is hard. Sit down, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Then, do it again, for as many times as it takes for you to surrender. Let go your grasp on outside things and return to the very thing you need most: your self.
This is the most important part of your practice. Don’t skip it. Be aware of the breath, relax fingers and toes, relax eyelids over the eyes. Remember that whatever you have to do will be there when you’re done with your own practice, your own self-care, your own time. Just allow the stillness to be OK.
Jade Wonzo of Jade Light Yoga
Shanti, shanti, shanti. Peace, peace, peace.
Read more of my posts about Jade Wonzo: Meet Jade Wonzo, the Teacher Who Wants Yoga to be for All.