A Thanksgiving Message

As we prepare for a day of festivities and feasting we couldn’t help but think about what truly nourishes us. Go on, take a moment, what nourishes you?

Though we each have our own unique diets and palettes, whether you prefer turkey with gravy and stuffing or Tofurky with all the vegetarian fixin’s, it should quickly become clear that man and woman cannot live on cornbread alone. As the sufi poet Hafiz writes in With that Moon Language, we all have “this great pull in us to connect.” Friends, family, acquaintances, a nod or shared smile, a chance meeting on the street – when we make these connections everything tastes better, life is that much sweeter.

We often end yoga class by bringing our hands together, thumbs in toward the heart, bowing our heads and speaking the Sanskrit word Namaste. Used as a greeting and parting word in India, Namaste, is comprised of “nama” bow, “as” I and “te” you. Namaste literally means Bow I You or I Bow to You. With a little creative license Namaste has been translated to “the light in me bows to the light in you.” With one simple word we recognize and honor all that is different and all that is the same within us and others. We make the connection we yearn for. And that dear friends, is soul food.

Namaste and sincerest wishes for a bountiful Thanksgiving,
Your friends at Yoga Life

Namaste
I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells.
The place which is of light, of live, of peace and of truth.
When you are in that place in you,
and I am in that place in me,
we are one.
Namaste

With That Moon Language
by Hafiz
Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.”
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops.
Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye
that is always saying,
with that sweet moon language,
what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?