Once per month weSPARK offers a FREE 90 minute Yin Yoga workshop for cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. Our first workshop in November was a huge success and we are so grateful for all who attended! The theme of the November yin workshop was ‘giving’.
For the December workshop we focused on Makahiki Season. We were inspired by this important part of Hawaiian culture. The time of the Makahiki is sacred. During this time of year (four consecutive lunar months from approximately October – March) intense laborious work comes to a halt; heavy labor, warring and conflict cease. During the time of the Makahiki we connect to our community, restore bonds through communicating shared experiences, listening to what others have encountered on their journey, and giving freely. By taking this time to rest and replenish we allow time for our collective consciousness and mother earth to regenerate and form a plan for the next cycle. This time of harvest allows us to celebrate the earth’s abundance, to distribute it among the community and to give thanks!
Yin Yoga focuses on the connective tissue in the body. This practice enhances the flow of energy in the tissues around the joints. As a community, we come together and work on our emotional ‘connective tissue’ through this practice as well.
Guests entered a candlelit space and enjoyed the music of Snatam Kaur as we began our workshop. As the music filled the air, each guest was offered doTERRA essential oils to warm in their palms by rubbing their hands together and inhaling deeply. This subtle reminder to focus on the breath throughout the practice is very soothing.
We went around the room and introduced ourselves by first name and shared one thing we wanted to let go of in honor of Makahiki season. Guests focused on the emotional ‘weapons’ that they felt no longer served them.
During the last few moments of savasana we shared a poem by Rumi which honored our Makahiki theme:
Forget the world, and so
command the world.
Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.
Help someone`s soul heal.
Walk out of your house like a shepherd.
Stay in the spiritual fire.
Let it cook you.
Be a well-baked loaf
and lord of the table.
Come and be served
to your brothers.
You have been a source of pain.
Now you`ll be the delight.
You have been an unsafe house.
Now you`ll be the One
who sees into the Invisible.
I said this, and a Voice came to my ear:
If you become this, you will be That!
Then Silence,
and now more Silence.
A mouth is not for talking.
A mouth is for tasting this sweetness.
As our practice came to a close we sealed our connection through celebration and sound. Foster Oren Haney led us with drumming and chanting. The connection between the words we chanted and weSPARK was meaningful to all of us.
I bow to the divine, creative spark in all things, I bow to the great teachings which take us from darkness to light.
The light in me sees, recognizes, admires, adores and believes in the light I have always seen in you.
Namaste!
weSPARK offers completely FREE programs, workshops, classes and individual therapies to cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones. Remember to take a look at our monthly program schedule for more information about the services we offer.
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