WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.180 --> 00:00:07.450 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Welcome welcome. We're and office hours for 2 00:00:08.610 --> 00:00:15.420 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): April. I can't believe that it is April already, and 3 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:22.839 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and just give a moment while people are gathering. But if you want to drop in the chat 2 words. 4 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:30.080 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): how you're doing anything that's up for you right now, please share 5 00:00:31.190 --> 00:00:38.250 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): in the chat. If you would like, or if anyone wants to come on, Mike, and and share out loud 6 00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:46.269 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): 2 words, how you are in this moment, and I'm feeling 7 00:00:46.770 --> 00:00:51.399 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): joyful, happy to be here, happy to be here with each of you. 8 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:57.449 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): for folks live for folks on the recording. And Hello! 9 00:01:01.150 --> 00:01:02.220 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hi! 10 00:01:07.890 --> 00:01:11.810 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hi! Shabara! Did you want to share out loud, so good to see you. 11 00:01:12.240 --> 00:01:15.459 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): Hey! How are you? I'm centered, restored. 12 00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:20.825 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm! Beautiful love to hear that. 13 00:01:21.910 --> 00:01:26.030 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And Laura says, flowing and energetic. 14 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:29.260 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm, yeah. 15 00:01:29.830 --> 00:01:33.460 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Inspired and present. 16 00:01:34.410 --> 00:01:44.359 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So we get to explore some different themes in Yoga. And you know I feel like this month. 17 00:01:44.990 --> 00:02:05.049 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): There's there's just so much up in the world like so much going on, and it's also about to be spring here in our hemisphere, about to be fall on the other hemisphere. And so I just kind of thought we could move into a little bit of like celebration of 18 00:02:05.860 --> 00:02:08.404 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): that, like the the 19 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:36.840 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): the blooming of the shoots, and then the grounding of the roots, so kind of both like whether we're grounding and rooting or whether we're blooming. We could do that as our theme and our exploration today. But I also just want to check in with folks who are here. Is there anything on your heart or mind anything that's come up, or themes that you want to explore? Questions that you have 20 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:55.300 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): so inviting in anything, anything that might have arisen or be alive for you. 21 00:02:56.060 --> 00:03:15.209 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anything you want to explore through the kind of lens of Yoga philosophy as well. So it could be something outside of like. It doesn't have to be in a Yoga context. It could be like in your life or relationships. But you want to bring a yogic perspective to it. So just inviting that that in 22 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:21.720 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And 23 00:03:26.050 --> 00:03:31.747 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'll give a moment to see if anyone wants to wants to share? 24 00:03:34.141 --> 00:03:41.170 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I think we got one or 2 questions pre-prepared questions. So I'm just gonna look at those in a second. 25 00:03:42.620 --> 00:03:43.600 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And 26 00:03:50.870 --> 00:03:51.570 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): yeah. 27 00:03:55.170 --> 00:03:55.850 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): hmm. 28 00:03:59.650 --> 00:04:03.410 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I can't believe it's already April, right? It's like that time of 29 00:04:04.920 --> 00:04:14.119 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like abundance and growth. And then also, like we might not be fully ready for it. You know we might be like kind of coming 30 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:21.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): coming from, or even around us, like 31 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:27.160 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): still snowy or still rainy where I live. It's pretty sunny and getting warm, but 32 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:32.469 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): sometimes the outside doesn't mirror the inside. So also just noticing that 33 00:04:33.696 --> 00:04:49.869 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): alright. So I think we'll do a little practice and then explore. Give me just one moment. I'm gonna have someone close the door outside where I am just to make sure you all. We have sound privacy because I have my kid at home for Spring break. 34 00:04:50.050 --> 00:04:51.130 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and 35 00:04:55.450 --> 00:04:58.839 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): could you close? Could you close your door 36 00:05:10.510 --> 00:05:11.920 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): alright? 37 00:05:13.810 --> 00:05:19.620 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We'll take a little Swadhyaya journey journey into ourselves. 38 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:28.549 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So wherever you are, taking a deep breath in shrugging your shoulders up towards your ears, and then exhale 39 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:30.839 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): releasing down. 40 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:50.529 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then invitation to draw your attention inward and downward to all the parts of you, touching the earth. 41 00:05:51.150 --> 00:05:55.519 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): allowing your breath to move slowly and easefully. 42 00:05:57.550 --> 00:06:00.109 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and if your breath does get stuck. 43 00:06:00.280 --> 00:06:04.340 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): slowing down to allow it to glide as you move. 44 00:06:10.450 --> 00:06:19.630 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): softening, noticing if there's any tension present 45 00:06:19.950 --> 00:06:25.430 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): anywhere in your body, not needing to change it, just bringing awareness there 46 00:06:34.880 --> 00:06:39.800 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and noticing. If there's any joy or ease 47 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:43.480 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): present in your body at this moment. 48 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:55.069 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): you might feel it in your limbs, your torso. You might even notice 49 00:06:56.190 --> 00:07:01.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): some of your organs feel joyful. Maybe your stomach just had a good meal 50 00:07:12.540 --> 00:07:18.129 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): inhale, lifting our arms up any amount away from the earth 51 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:36.010 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): very mindfully and slowly on your exhale arms. Come down, and as they come down you can push them into a solid foundation, so that might be the table or your own thighs, feeling this solidity. 52 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:42.319 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So we're moving from this sort of open spaciousness on the inhale arms, coming up. 53 00:07:42.780 --> 00:07:58.840 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): expanding and then exhale, gliding through that center transition, noticing even the transition, and then rooting and grounding down. So maybe massaging yourself couple breaths here 54 00:08:02.150 --> 00:08:04.709 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): on your next inhale 55 00:08:05.270 --> 00:08:11.379 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): rising up, and this time we'll do it a little bit differently. So, just listening for the queue 56 00:08:12.190 --> 00:08:32.890 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): inhale, stretching up maybe a gentle back bend, arching your back, and then on your exhale twisting around to one side. So arms come back behind you. If you're in a chair you want to use the chair to help you twist. That's great. You can also use your own body, place your hand on your own body, maybe 57 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:38.979 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): one hand on a leg or on your back, twisting around from your belly, chest. 58 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:47.010 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and shoulders, and then twisting from your chin and your face twist around last. 59 00:08:51.370 --> 00:08:56.249 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Sometimes there can be insights Vadya or 60 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:00.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Joy Santosha, from looking from a new perspective. 61 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:06.770 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then inhale 62 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:22.889 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): arms come up towards the sky, exhale, twisting to the other direction, remembering that we're not symmetrical beings, we don't live symmetrical lives or have symmetrical sides. It's okay. If this side feels a little different 63 00:09:23.670 --> 00:09:29.169 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): inhaling, exhaling, and twisting from your belly, your chest 64 00:09:30.190 --> 00:09:33.070 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): chin, and your eyes twist around last 65 00:09:43.930 --> 00:09:47.039 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): back on your next inhale. 66 00:09:47.320 --> 00:10:14.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We're going to try an interesting focus practice. And this is one that I learned from Diana May and her teachings on yoke, Yoga. So just an invitation she teaches on Monday, if you like this, she does a lot of these practices. You can practice there for free more if you like, but I like to name when I get a practice from someone. So to do this, you'll take your one finger. 67 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:22.970 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Could be your pointer could be. Any finger right could be your whole hand, and you point it out in front of you, and just let your eyes rest on your own finger. 68 00:10:23.110 --> 00:10:32.140 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then you're going to follow that finger. It's going to make a big circle. We'll do it with both hands, but we'll make 3 circles around. 69 00:10:32.660 --> 00:10:40.399 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): you can turn your head, letting your head turn, thinking as big of a circle as you can 70 00:10:41.020 --> 00:10:43.319 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): on one side. 71 00:10:48.370 --> 00:10:54.350 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): This movement helps us connect our mind, our eyes, our nervous system. 72 00:10:54.820 --> 00:11:09.390 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and our body. Now bring the other hand up so opposite hands, putting that 1st one down, gazing at the other fingertip, and following this arm, now is it circles head can turn 73 00:11:11.730 --> 00:11:15.140 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): circling in a big, wide arc. 74 00:11:15.650 --> 00:11:19.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and your eyes follow your finger. 75 00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:32.779 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That's 3, if not doing one more. 76 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:38.470 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then we'll come to center, bringing both fingers together, gazing up 77 00:11:38.910 --> 00:11:46.139 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): the point, bringing your hands to heart. Eyes closed for a moment, just noticing any 78 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:51.780 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): differences, anything that you feel commer. 79 00:11:54.000 --> 00:12:05.600 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): we're grounded, focused. And now we'll practice that twist one more time and see if you notice anything different about your twist, so inhale arms come up 80 00:12:05.930 --> 00:12:17.280 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): above your head, exhale, twisting around to the side from the belly, chest, hips, eyes. 81 00:12:22.270 --> 00:12:26.049 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then inhale arms. Come back up. 82 00:12:28.530 --> 00:12:35.550 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): exhale twist to the other direction from your belly chest, chin, eyes. 83 00:12:45.280 --> 00:12:48.479 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and now back to center. 84 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:58.260 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and this time, as we exhale, we'll fold forward over our own bodies, so any amount that you would like to fold forward could be over your 85 00:12:58.770 --> 00:13:10.099 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): your own body, or could be over a table or chair. You could be seated or standing folding forward, resting down 86 00:13:10.910 --> 00:13:14.800 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): deep breath in and out. 87 00:13:32.270 --> 00:13:34.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): One more breath here. 88 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:55.930 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then, once you're ready, gently coming back up into seated. 89 00:13:56.250 --> 00:14:03.119 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and when you get there you can reach down and lift up one leg and place one foot on the top 90 00:14:03.330 --> 00:14:05.769 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): of the other knee for figure 4, 91 00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:16.989 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): so like one leg is crossed over the other, and like can stay down, and you can stay right there, or, if you would like placing your hands 92 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:28.449 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): on your own leg, maybe giving it a little massage, and lengthen your spine and exhale gently. Move forward. It doesn't matter how far you come forward. 93 00:14:28.570 --> 00:14:33.999 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What really matters is just feeling a little bit of care in that hip. 94 00:14:35.250 --> 00:14:43.339 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): so you might even want to. Rub your hip, giving your 95 00:14:43.700 --> 00:14:47.049 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): hip little bit of a massage. 96 00:14:52.450 --> 00:15:07.180 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then inhale, and as you bring your leg down you might want to just kind of cradle your leg. I'm demonstrating with my hands, but cradle your leg, making little circles with your leg. I'm demonstrating with my arms because 97 00:15:08.490 --> 00:15:18.680 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): can't get my leg up that high. And then that's okay. It doesn't really matter where your leg is, just giving your hip a little bit of tender 98 00:15:18.790 --> 00:15:27.549 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): care, and then exhale with love, placing that leg supportingly on the earth. 99 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:47.759 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then again remembering, we're not symmetrical beings. So this side might be different, lifting up your other foot and placing your foot on your knee. So we're in a practice. Welcome, Linda, and we're so figure 4 with your other leg placed, your other foot placed on top of your 100 00:15:48.020 --> 00:15:55.700 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): knee, and then from here, maybe massaging that foot or that leg and calf your hip. 101 00:15:56.530 --> 00:15:59.159 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then coming forward, any amount. 102 00:15:59.900 --> 00:16:03.470 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): gently stretching into your own body. 103 00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:15.540 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): breathing in breathing out. 104 00:16:26.370 --> 00:16:30.499 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's massaging your calf, your hip. 105 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:38.950 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): giving a little rock the baby to your thigh as you bring it out and 106 00:16:41.540 --> 00:16:45.050 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): move it around and place it back down 107 00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:55.090 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): invitation to come into a wide legged stance. So your legs can be wide. As you're seated on your chair we could be standing and have your legs wide. 108 00:16:55.450 --> 00:17:09.190 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and exhale forward, fold. So again another gentle stretch, just slight engagement through the inner thighs, adductors practicing 109 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:16.359 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to bring ease and solidity, and grounding in your own body. 110 00:17:26.869 --> 00:17:34.030 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Let my consciousness rest and restore through all of these practices. 111 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:42.960 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): noticing if there's any movements that bring a little bit of joy. 112 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:53.949 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): inhale coming back up, and we'll do a gentle cat and cow so inhaling and lifting your chin up. 113 00:17:54.100 --> 00:18:13.480 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): arching your back, exhale, rounding your back, and I know for many. This is like snack time, lunchtime, so please feel free to eat or get nourishment or drink. You. You know we can practice in all the ways right? You can also just visualize yourself. Inhale. 114 00:18:14.450 --> 00:18:16.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): exhale 115 00:18:17.750 --> 00:18:32.309 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): if you want a little more heat, maybe expanding your heart up towards the sky. If you're wanting a little more grounding and cooling, maybe letting the rounding be a bit longer, and melting towards the earth. 116 00:18:34.570 --> 00:18:39.369 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): one or 2 more with your own breath. 117 00:18:52.040 --> 00:18:57.019 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then, finding your easeful still place 118 00:18:57.600 --> 00:19:00.969 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): shoulders back and down towards the earth. 119 00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:08.170 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): jaw soft, eyes soft. 120 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:18.400 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): be leaning a little bit forward into anything you're looking forward to, or anticipating a little bit back into anything that's got 121 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:26.449 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): a hold on you, or kind of pulling you back and just acknowledging those things and letting them go 122 00:19:27.110 --> 00:19:30.019 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): moving a little left and a little right. 123 00:19:30.840 --> 00:19:34.489 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anything that came up that was unexpected 124 00:19:34.610 --> 00:19:39.649 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): this week or today, acknowledging, letting those things go. 125 00:19:40.110 --> 00:19:44.750 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And then you're kind of making a little circle with your spine, with your body 126 00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:51.470 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): when you're ready, letting go circling the other way. 127 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:03.530 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): letting those circles become smaller and smaller 128 00:20:05.643 --> 00:20:12.329 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): have a beautiful teacher who's been teaching meditation for 129 00:20:12.430 --> 00:20:17.369 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Marina Luaz. She's been teaching for. 130 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:21.639 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I think, like 50 years, and she just came out of 131 00:20:22.260 --> 00:20:34.180 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): almost a year and a half silent retreat, and one of the practices she taught us. I'm just gonna invite us to try on. So if this resonates for you great if it doesn't, that's okay. 132 00:20:34.570 --> 00:20:50.830 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): she said. Instead of just going as we transition right into our seated meditation. What if there's a part of you? Just kind of tuning in like. Is there a part that wants to move and letting it move organically so it might be 133 00:20:52.160 --> 00:21:06.190 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like an arm that lifts up and twirls or smooths in space, moves in not any kind of 134 00:21:06.690 --> 00:21:13.890 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): form or formal way, but it's just an organic movement, and allowing 135 00:21:14.030 --> 00:21:19.830 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): our bodies, you know might be arm might be. Leg might be. Chin 136 00:21:19.970 --> 00:21:25.459 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): could be any part of you that just wants to like, express, or move. 137 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:36.279 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and finding its own way, taking your own time right? Not needing to come into stillness at any point. 138 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:46.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): but noticing what in your body it feels pulled into movement. 139 00:21:47.690 --> 00:21:50.619 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So an organic form of movement. 140 00:21:53.880 --> 00:22:07.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then, perhaps, after some time of moving, your body moves into ease and stillness. 141 00:22:08.730 --> 00:22:10.530 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Work continues. 142 00:22:10.630 --> 00:22:14.089 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's flow its own organic flow. 143 00:22:18.590 --> 00:22:24.750 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and we'll practice with a little bit of Svadya self-study. 144 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:33.800 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's far one's own oneself soul. 145 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:44.070 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah, meditating on present to meeting, witnessing ourselves. 146 00:22:47.730 --> 00:22:55.120 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm just checking in letting the awareness, rise to meet your inquiry. 147 00:22:56.470 --> 00:22:58.340 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): How is it with me? 148 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:05.469 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): There's so much wisdom in this pause in this inquiry. 149 00:23:06.290 --> 00:23:12.700 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): We'll move into silence for a few minutes, and then I'll guide us out with my breath when it's time. 150 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:48.120 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Pulse that life, force, energy that moves through you. 151 00:29:03.450 --> 00:29:04.900 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm saying. 152 00:29:05.130 --> 00:29:13.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Bodily sensations, emotions, whatever you feel. 153 00:29:20.170 --> 00:29:21.949 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): letting it be. 154 00:29:24.370 --> 00:29:31.110 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): If you're tired, feel that if you're full of joy and pleasure, feel that. 155 00:29:33.170 --> 00:29:39.849 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Santosha, is that contentment that can arise from abiding 156 00:29:40.260 --> 00:29:45.640 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): in our own true self nature, presence. 157 00:29:49.010 --> 00:29:50.500 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): aliveness. 158 00:29:50.790 --> 00:30:02.380 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): In the moment, as you're ready, gently come back, bringing 159 00:30:02.650 --> 00:30:05.859 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): our awareness into the room around us. 160 00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:13.430 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): taking in form and shape and color, looking around and noticing 161 00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:19.450 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): anything about this space that you're in that feels supportive. 162 00:30:20.760 --> 00:30:28.190 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): just noticed how warm the light is like the natural light, but also the 163 00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:34.570 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): electric light. Such a warmth like a goldeny glow. 164 00:30:38.050 --> 00:30:45.850 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): And we'll come back into a little reflection, a little bit of journaling. 165 00:30:47.310 --> 00:30:55.420 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Okay, I'm giving these questions before. But I think 166 00:30:56.280 --> 00:31:04.530 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): new moments right? New times. We can ask these 167 00:31:05.170 --> 00:31:12.190 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and explore them differently. And I'm gonna put the questions in the chat, and 168 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:26.159 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): it's actually 3. But it came in as 2 bullet points. So you can choose what to journal on, and you can write right into the chat, or you can write in your journal or somewhere. Just reflect 169 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:32.210 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): what feels like. It brings you joy and contentment right now. 170 00:31:32.420 --> 00:31:40.569 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Not what your friends, or family, or society thinks should bring you joy, or make you content or happy. 171 00:31:40.690 --> 00:31:44.479 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But what brings you joy and contentment? 172 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:56.419 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What would be the most fun. The most present thing for you to do right now, right right now, in this moment, right now in your life, either by yourself, with partners, family, friends. 173 00:31:57.220 --> 00:32:05.580 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then bringing Santosha out into the world. What are you here to experience and create as part of a community? 174 00:32:05.690 --> 00:32:12.810 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): How can you bring in joy as part of the Revolution. You are building the evolution revolution. 175 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:18.609 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So those are our our 3 inquiries, and we'll take 176 00:32:19.070 --> 00:32:22.330 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): about 5 min. I'll play a song 177 00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:30.954 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): with no words. It's nice to sometimes have some ambience music, and 178 00:32:32.820 --> 00:32:35.380 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and then we'll share out if you would like. 179 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:01.130 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Okay. 180 00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:13.460 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): hmm. 181 00:38:14.140 --> 00:38:22.980 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Noticing a few have any last thoughts or things that you want to reflect on or write about. 182 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:42.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and I'd love to invite any shares into the space, out loud or in the chat. That was that song was an original composition that Sarathi Garimela did for us. 183 00:38:43.690 --> 00:38:46.600 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So drop their name 184 00:38:58.850 --> 00:39:02.990 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): would like to share or ask or inquire. 185 00:39:12.230 --> 00:39:13.010 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm. 186 00:39:16.170 --> 00:39:21.230 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): yeah, Christina, it's such a beautiful song, and I feel like he composed. 187 00:39:21.470 --> 00:39:24.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): He's a like a fusion 188 00:39:24.990 --> 00:39:34.870 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Indian artist in the diaspora, who brings from like deep roots in traditional ragas, and then also, like 189 00:39:35.080 --> 00:39:46.409 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): contemporary music. And so I really love his music to help like bring a meditative kind of reflective. Really, it's like practice music for me. 190 00:39:49.050 --> 00:39:52.010 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anyone else want to share anything. 191 00:39:53.430 --> 00:39:54.739 Linda Wells: I can share. 192 00:39:55.170 --> 00:39:56.319 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. Hi, Linda. 193 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:57.210 Linda Wells: Hi! 194 00:39:57.894 --> 00:40:00.859 Linda Wells: What brings me joy and contentment 195 00:40:01.770 --> 00:40:07.440 Linda Wells: that you know society? I was actually just talking to my therapist about this. 196 00:40:07.720 --> 00:40:15.910 Linda Wells: I try to make sure I give myself breaks in between task 197 00:40:16.350 --> 00:40:23.290 Linda Wells: or high energy things. If I'm working, I make sure to give myself gaps. 198 00:40:23.290 --> 00:40:23.720 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm. 199 00:40:24.150 --> 00:40:29.150 Linda Wells: And I was talking about how sometimes I feel 200 00:40:31.430 --> 00:40:37.630 Linda Wells: I I was going to say guilty, but I really don't feel guilt or shame around it. 201 00:40:38.310 --> 00:40:45.169 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): but I do know that there are people that are judging me that are in my circle, that I respect. 202 00:40:45.830 --> 00:40:52.020 Linda Wells: Who are like, you know, the rest of us just work. You just gotta work like how dare you? 203 00:40:52.180 --> 00:41:03.669 Linda Wells: But I know that that's how my energy flows, and that's something that helps me. Be content with the things that I'm doing. It allows me time to process 204 00:41:04.410 --> 00:41:06.640 Linda Wells: and restore after. 205 00:41:07.380 --> 00:41:13.600 Linda Wells: So I find contentment in that when on days when I'm 206 00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:26.009 Linda Wells: able to do it, do I feel joyful? Does it bring me joy? No, but it makes me feel content like I've designed a life where I'm a i can make space 207 00:41:26.440 --> 00:41:34.410 Linda Wells: for that, a space for rest, space for digesting. 208 00:41:37.580 --> 00:41:41.420 Linda Wells: Yeah, that's that's my reflection. 209 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:44.890 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): That's very powerful. Thank you, Linda. 210 00:41:46.780 --> 00:41:49.370 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm seeing Laura resonate. 211 00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:59.680 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and says, love that in a society of Go Go, you know your needs breaks are necessary. Thank you for sharing. And Shavara wants to jump in, too. Yeah. 212 00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:13.929 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): Yeah, thank you so much for that, Linda. I appreciate so much. You sharing. I wrote something down. I recently became certified as a scuba diver, and just a couple weeks ago was 78 213 00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:30.339 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): feet down in the Mediterranean Sea in Malta. And so what I wrote was, what brings me joy descending into the blue, not to escape, but to remember. I enter a world that is not my own, and yet I do not feel like a stranger. 214 00:42:30.340 --> 00:42:45.220 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): There's something sacred in the stillness below, marine life moving in quiet coordination, coral swaying without rush currents pulling without resistance, cilia fluttering like a soft language. I instinctively understand, I become part of the rhythm 215 00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:47.760 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): held hushed all. 216 00:42:54.530 --> 00:42:56.660 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Unique perspective. 217 00:42:56.890 --> 00:43:10.620 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): You also made me think of something Shavari. You know how a lot of people talk about. I forgot what it's called. I think it's like the moon effect, or the space effect, or something like when people go to space, they have such a different view of the earth. 218 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:18.409 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But it sounds like that's also true when you go deep into the ocean. And I've never thought of that. 219 00:43:19.120 --> 00:43:20.180 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Wow! 220 00:43:26.570 --> 00:43:27.960 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anyone else 221 00:43:50.040 --> 00:43:51.706 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): for me. 222 00:43:52.680 --> 00:44:13.980 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I was just reminded Linda, as you were sharing. I want to share that part, and then answer the question of being in it. I don't know why the day long meditations are coming up a lot in this class, but they are different different day long. This was years ago. I was probably 20 years ago, and you know. So I'm like 20 something 26 223 00:44:14.060 --> 00:44:39.229 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): partying in La, freshly dating, you know, newly single. And I chose to go to this. It was, I think it was a 2 day silent, residential, meaning or non-residential, so meaning, you drive to the retreat, go there from 9 to 5, and then drive home. I think I lived in a co-OP with 5 other people, you know. So, and then silent in the day, and the teacher, Trudy Goodman, this time she was like. 224 00:44:39.900 --> 00:44:51.669 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's so ridiculous and countercultural that we would on a Saturday like, be here in a room in a meditation space together, doing nothing. 225 00:44:52.660 --> 00:45:09.889 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and the world outside the people in our lives like they may think that we're crazy like like making choices that make no sense. And yet, on another level, it's like the most sane thing we could do, you know, and the most grounding thing. And I just always remember that because 226 00:45:10.370 --> 00:45:13.069 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I didn't have the internal 227 00:45:13.460 --> 00:45:19.960 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): compass yet to like, trust myself to go my own path. But hearing from a teacher who was a 228 00:45:20.090 --> 00:45:25.120 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): you know, little ahead of me in terms of practice and also years. 229 00:45:25.620 --> 00:45:36.709 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's like, Oh, yeah, like, we can almost like swim upstream. And sometimes we have to, and sometimes politically, right, like it feels a little bit like that, or personally. 230 00:45:36.820 --> 00:45:46.379 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and having that inner sovereignty to just trust our choices and trust our path, I was reminded of 231 00:45:46.500 --> 00:45:53.020 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): of that moment. So thank you for bringing that back, because that felt like a turning point for me 232 00:45:53.150 --> 00:45:55.360 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): of sorts in my practice. 233 00:45:57.330 --> 00:46:05.910 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Sometimes, when I give these journaling prompts, I don't know if it's because I'm teaching, I I'll be yeah, maybe be. And sometimes I'm a little bit like 234 00:46:06.310 --> 00:46:14.450 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I feel like it's like a bit surface. My response, and so just naming that. But so I want to come back to them. 235 00:46:14.770 --> 00:46:29.119 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But I feel really joyful in my creativity, and making music just to make music. I'm new, like a new musician. 48, and learning a new thing, bass guitar and playing with my partner and my kiddo, who plays, drums. 236 00:46:29.966 --> 00:46:39.869 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and just for just to do it, you know, not not for any reason, I think, under capitalism. Sometimes 237 00:46:40.320 --> 00:46:43.740 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): it's been hard for me to practice or do things 238 00:46:43.960 --> 00:46:47.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): just for myself, where I feel like I need to. 239 00:46:47.600 --> 00:47:05.209 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): They need to serve a purpose, you know, and no, they don't. And no, I don't right like I get to live and thrive just for the very I don't need to earn feeling good, you know. And then the other thing I'm excited by, and also 240 00:47:06.070 --> 00:47:31.569 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like, in this resonance of rest, and then recharge and then be present, is I'm going on book tour. So for the very 1st time with my 1st book. It came out in the pandemic. So I never really got to see people in person. And I saw a lot of people online. And I'm so grateful for that. But I'm actually going to be like going up the west coast, driving and then flying to the east coast later in May and driving down. And 241 00:47:31.730 --> 00:47:39.480 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm really excited to just feel people and to feel their energy and to connect. And 242 00:47:40.080 --> 00:47:48.809 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm also like, okay building in rest, building in days, building in hours, you know, in between things, is going to be so important. 243 00:47:49.210 --> 00:47:51.529 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): so like the joy of 244 00:47:51.940 --> 00:48:09.660 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): being present. And then the joy, like the flower that kind of opens in the day and the brightness, and then, like closes in the night and hibernates that cycle that daily cycle. But those flowers do it seasonally, too. So right now they're kind of opening back up. 245 00:48:09.840 --> 00:48:15.640 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): But they also do go back to the earth. So that was my reflection. 246 00:48:16.390 --> 00:48:23.315 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): That really resonated with me that last part that you said, going back to the earth, I 247 00:48:24.340 --> 00:48:37.490 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): I flew to Amsterdam this weekend to have dinner with 8 people that I didn't know, hosted by a man who moved from London to Amsterdam to embark on the journey of euthanasia there and 248 00:48:37.899 --> 00:49:03.280 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): so it was a powerful dinner, with prompts in between each course, reflections about about life, about reconnecting to earth. He's a young man, he's a young artist 28 years old, and it was such it was so powerful, it felt so grounding. I didn't have sorrow. I felt as though I was bearing witness, and how inextricably bound we are. 249 00:49:03.500 --> 00:49:30.919 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): no matter where we are coming from or where we are going, or what we hold belief around. And so it actually resonated. Susanna, because I'm I was watching some of your video, some of the videos today in our our session. And I was watching the video about the the 2 young women who, the the 2 young, the 2 humans who have the podcast, and one was saying that someone has to have a belief in something 250 00:49:30.920 --> 00:49:37.119 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): and and their estimation to be a practitioner. And I was thinking about that because that came up like 251 00:49:37.120 --> 00:49:49.120 Chevara Orrin (she/her) (shuh-VAH-rah): people held a wide range of belief about life and death. And so that video resonated with me differently today than when I watched it last week. So I so appreciate that. 252 00:49:50.780 --> 00:49:52.429 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): It's so powerful. 253 00:49:52.620 --> 00:49:53.520 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm! 254 00:49:56.960 --> 00:49:58.470 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Anyone else. 255 00:50:09.900 --> 00:50:12.560 Abby Shepard: I can share. Hi, everyone! 256 00:50:12.720 --> 00:50:18.300 Abby Shepard: I'm Abby. She may pronounce on on unseated table land in Ogapoge. 257 00:50:18.430 --> 00:50:20.959 Abby Shepard: colonize the Santa Fe, New Mexico. 258 00:50:22.310 --> 00:50:32.290 Abby Shepard: and I really appreciate Susanna? These questions about joy. Cause I feel like yesterday was one of those days where it felt really hard to access joy until. 259 00:50:32.630 --> 00:50:36.250 Abby Shepard: like I. There was like someone who organized like a community 260 00:50:36.680 --> 00:50:39.970 Abby Shepard: organizing meeting to talk about like mutual aid. 261 00:50:40.170 --> 00:50:48.380 Abby Shepard: and I chose to bike there and then as soon as I like did the biking, and got to like see people, and then came back like the energy was totally shifted. 262 00:50:48.490 --> 00:50:52.370 Abby Shepard: And I've been thinking as like 263 00:50:53.190 --> 00:50:57.860 Abby Shepard: as I'm involved in these different projects. How like so often like. 264 00:50:58.410 --> 00:51:05.779 Abby Shepard: I'm coming together with these other people. And it feels so like it is serious, like the things we're working against and trying to 265 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:12.369 Abby Shepard: support community members and work through like, there's so much of that. But I just like 266 00:51:12.490 --> 00:51:34.210 Abby Shepard: I think it was last week. I just had this intuition of like, I just need to host a movie night like with these people, and just like invite people to come and like center, just like joy and like being together in person and just like doing something that's totally different from this work. But yeah, I was just like really appreciating 267 00:51:34.600 --> 00:51:44.180 Abby Shepard: the last question you posed about, how can you bring in joy as part of the revolution you are building? And it's like, yeah, these spaces where we can actually just like 268 00:51:44.740 --> 00:51:49.540 Abby Shepard: hang out. And we can watch silly movies. We can laugh together. And 269 00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:54.220 Abby Shepard: yeah, I I wanna keep reflecting on. 270 00:51:54.540 --> 00:52:02.709 Abby Shepard: how can that be something consistent that is integrated into the other community building and organizing that's happening? 271 00:52:03.730 --> 00:52:04.830 Abby Shepard: Thank you. 272 00:52:07.810 --> 00:52:12.389 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hmm, thank you so much, Abby, for sharing that. 273 00:52:12.970 --> 00:52:13.780 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. 274 00:52:16.100 --> 00:52:26.624 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): yeah. The fun, like the everyday things, you know. I think a lot about how it's like food and and like food can bring so much joy 275 00:52:27.160 --> 00:52:32.890 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): entertainment like watching a movie together. Playing a game like it doesn't have to be 276 00:52:33.430 --> 00:52:41.208 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): complicated or deep, and even if it is like an organizing meeting or something where we're working together, there can be an element of play. 277 00:52:42.250 --> 00:52:49.440 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Laura says. I resonate with that community is what came up for me. What brings me joy. Thank you for sharing. 278 00:52:49.580 --> 00:52:58.649 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Hi, Jennifer. Oh, welcome! Welcome! We've just been reflecting on. Well, I'll share the questions, and 279 00:52:58.920 --> 00:53:23.159 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): people are just sharing. What brings you joy and contentment, not what your friends or family think should bring you joy. But what truly brings you joy and ease. And you may have heard these before, but we're just kind of circling back, because I do feel especially joy. We can have different answers. You know what would be the most present or fun for you to do right now, solo, or with partners, family, or a group of friends. 280 00:53:23.190 --> 00:53:34.520 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): What are you here to experience and create as part of a community? And how can you bring in joy as part of the rural evolution or revolution evolution you are building. 281 00:53:35.180 --> 00:53:38.450 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Those are our our questions. 282 00:53:39.700 --> 00:53:44.400 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Would anyone else like to share? We probably have time for one more share 283 00:54:18.100 --> 00:54:20.179 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): to ask? Now. 284 00:54:20.520 --> 00:54:32.420 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): there's anything you're taking away, you know. Sometimes it can be something that someone else said, or an Aha! Or like something from our practice. 285 00:54:35.460 --> 00:54:43.689 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I think for me. It's inspired by Linda and Trudy, and all the teachers and the people who like help me swim upstream. 286 00:54:44.264 --> 00:54:48.800 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Who helped me like go a different way, and move to my own rhythm. 287 00:54:49.060 --> 00:54:56.770 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and who encourage that and support that, and noticing. 288 00:54:57.590 --> 00:55:15.730 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I think I'm in a particularly sensitive moment. We all have different moments, and some of us are more sensitive than others, and I'm 1 of those sensitive ones. And so noticing that sometimes I like have a bigger kind of bandwidth, and sometimes it's not as big. And so, being around people where I just don't feel as like 289 00:55:16.020 --> 00:55:18.639 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): expansive or like it can be myself. 290 00:55:18.870 --> 00:55:20.499 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): can do a little less of that. 291 00:55:20.770 --> 00:55:31.090 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): like, I'll prioritize being around around places and people that help me feel self-trust. Right? Self-sovereignty. 292 00:55:31.440 --> 00:55:36.260 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Yeah. So that's what I'm taking anyone else. 293 00:55:36.970 --> 00:55:39.489 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): you can drop it on the chat or share out loud. 294 00:55:40.585 --> 00:55:43.735 Linda Wells: I'll I'll share. I think that. 295 00:55:46.150 --> 00:55:55.069 Linda Wells: I I really am honoring and thanking my body today because my body told me 296 00:55:56.850 --> 00:56:02.790 Linda Wells: you are. I'm sensing we're burn. We're going towards the burnout route. 297 00:56:03.430 --> 00:56:07.999 Linda Wells: So what do you need to do to shift that? 298 00:56:08.260 --> 00:56:17.060 Linda Wells: Because I've started being more social? I wasn't being social. Then I started being social. And then invitation started again, and I was like, no 299 00:56:19.440 --> 00:56:23.639 Linda Wells: and so I am really grateful that 300 00:56:23.830 --> 00:56:29.955 Linda Wells: I took the moment, even though I felt so busy today that 301 00:56:31.180 --> 00:56:33.879 Linda Wells: I came, even though I came late. 302 00:56:34.780 --> 00:56:40.189 Linda Wells: And I'm I'm I'm thankful for my body for working in the way that it needed to. 303 00:56:40.930 --> 00:56:42.689 Linda Wells: for for this to happen. 304 00:56:48.230 --> 00:56:51.310 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you, Linda. I'm reading Abby. 305 00:56:51.420 --> 00:57:02.150 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): taking away inspiration to design my schedule and my days with more space for rest as I'm able, thanks to Linda's and other shares. Yeah. 306 00:57:06.720 --> 00:57:07.630 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): hmm. 307 00:57:09.890 --> 00:57:16.309 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Such a blessing to be in this community, you know, with folks who like have shared values, feel good 308 00:57:16.690 --> 00:57:19.640 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): philosophy. Yoga practice in our lives. 309 00:57:20.310 --> 00:57:22.320 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm just grateful for each of you 310 00:57:23.050 --> 00:57:28.669 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): for folks listening in from your perhaps busy days, or listening to the recording 311 00:57:32.800 --> 00:57:34.300 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): space for 312 00:57:35.460 --> 00:57:41.929 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): another share, and Jennifer just checking in with you anything on your heart or mind? It's so good to see you here. 313 00:57:42.370 --> 00:57:44.345 jennifer g (she/her): It's good to see you. 314 00:57:46.290 --> 00:57:47.399 jennifer g (she/her): I've just been 315 00:57:48.560 --> 00:57:58.160 jennifer g (she/her): I mean, I'm 1 of those people right now where, like, I'm very busy. I mean I'm in. I'm sitting in my car and I have these on my calendar 316 00:57:58.480 --> 00:58:11.640 jennifer g (she/her): every time that they're there, and I'm always like I'm gonna protect that time, and I'm going to come, and it's really really hard to do so. And I'm really grateful. I was here earlier and 317 00:58:11.840 --> 00:58:19.309 jennifer g (she/her): heard some shares so really grateful to hear from from all of you, and I'm just thinking so much about collective care 318 00:58:20.666 --> 00:58:21.820 jennifer g (she/her): and just 319 00:58:23.360 --> 00:58:36.840 jennifer g (she/her): caring for both myself, but also just in service of like helping others care for themselves for the greater collective. I mean, I work in a school district. So I'm like around hundreds of people all the time that are always 320 00:58:39.649 --> 00:58:49.640 jennifer g (she/her): very up here for lack of a better explanation. And so I'm just thinking about collective care a lot. So thank you for listening, and 321 00:58:50.390 --> 00:58:53.709 jennifer g (she/her): thank you for all your shares. Grateful to be here right now. 322 00:58:57.340 --> 00:58:58.969 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you, Jennifer. 323 00:58:59.090 --> 00:59:06.270 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Collective care. So good. It's so needed. And 324 00:59:09.660 --> 00:59:19.189 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): I'm really, I've been appreciating lately that it starts with us right like it starts with taking care of ourselves, too, so we can then be in community. 325 00:59:19.420 --> 00:59:21.400 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So it ebbs and flows. 326 00:59:24.380 --> 00:59:40.610 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): So we're at our time, and I'm so grateful for each of you. I'll invite you to just unmute, if you would like, and say goodbye, or perhaps speak a word into the circle, and thank you so much for your presence. Thank you so much for your practice. 327 00:59:41.040 --> 00:59:46.269 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): and I'll see you next time. Thank you. 328 00:59:46.530 --> 00:59:48.100 jennifer g (she/her): Thank you. 329 00:59:48.350 --> 00:59:49.200 Abby Shepard: Thank you. 330 00:59:52.050 --> 00:59:53.250 Susanna Barkataki (She/They): Thank you.