The Heart of
Root to Rise Yoga
At the core of Root to Rise Yoga are three main “roots”
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Integrity
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Wholeness
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Vitality
These three “roots” support this offering in rising into infinite fractals of expansion, awakening and exploration.
It is a core belief of mine that the only authentic and sustainable path toward awakening and higher vibrational states of being ( meaning -more consistent experiences of happiness and joy, abundance of well-being and health on every level and a deeply fulfilling and more beauty-full life) is by FIRST and FOREMOST, rooting downward through the body, especially the lower half of the body. We can not awaken the heart or mind and sustain that awakening, until we have established a clear, strong and healthy connection through and with our lower physical body. It is in and through the body that we are able to awaken our heart-center and our higher-mind.
This process of rooting into the body begins with Integrity. On the path of yoga, Integrity has an intimate relationship with authenticity. Both of these are words that we hear used a lot these days. However, when I speak of authenticity and its relationship with Integrity, I am naming a foundational part of this practice. Through the practice of radical personal Integrity we must necessarily connect with and move from a deeper embodiment of authenticity. We can not both be in our personal Integrity and lack authenticity, no more than we can move from authenticity and lack personal integrity. Integrity, as a part of Root to Rise Yoga, has every thing to do with honesty, personal accountability and cultivating a deep and alive sense of what truly serves our highest and most integrated expression of self. This is what Integrity means for me. We must be willing to “Walk the talk”. There is much talk these days, and not nearly enough walk! The way we walk-quite literally and figuratively - speaks volumes about our Integrity. Through the practice of yoga as shared through Root to Rise, we learn to hold our selves tall and grounded, moving from a deep sense of personal Integrity and radial authenticity.
Our second main “root” is Wholeness. As we ground down and in, further and further, so too do we rise higher and higher. As we climb up the spine, so too shall we descend down. Eventually we spend increasing amounts of time right in the center, in our heart. It is through this exploration and journey of ascendent and descent of the spine-the “ladder of consciousness”-and the main thoroughfare of the physical body, that we discover and re-member the Wholeness of who we are. You were born into this world in a state of Wholeness. You are existing at your core, in a state of Wholeness.
Our final “root” is Vitality. The experience and expression of sustained Vitality of mind-body-heart is the juciest and perhaps (in these times) most significant. The world we now inhabit is filled with genetically modified foods, high levels of toxic chemicals in our soil, water and air, doomsday messages every night on screens, increases in cases of most major chronic dis-eases, unprecedented levels of mental-health dis-ease, including in our children, extreme levels of disassociation through the use of substances-both doctor prescribed and other-wise, the over consumption of food and caffeine or the continued struggle with disordered eating, and a massive world-wide addiction to screen use and un-healthy use of technology.
The media would have us believe that this is just how it is now, or worse yet, ignore what is actual occurring and continue to distract us away from the truth of what is. The truth is, we are alive during a very challenging time, where our planet and all it’s inhabitants are under tremendous stress and in a state of crisis. Our children are struggling and falling through the cracks, along with our elders. Our leadership is consumed by greed, and our food, water and air are now poisoned from years of chemical and greed-driven manufacturing and farming practices by corporations.
Lets all take a deep breath, open our mouths and exhale all that out…
Simultaneously, we are also alive at a time of great awakening. We are alive, and standing on the precipice of massive social, political and environmental change (inevitable or consciously chosen). We are alive during a time when we know exactly how to thrive on every level of our being-body-mind-heart. We are alive during a time when we can stay connected with one another and share this ancient and modern wisdom faster and more broadly than ever before. The path and practice of Yoga is NOT a new practice by any means. It is an ancient and deeply trodden path. Many people throughout the ages, have walked this way, and will continue to walk this way. The sages of this path continue to light our way, and the wisdom, insights and guidance from this magnificent and powerful path is available NOW! If you choose to walk this path and commit with full heart, mind and body, Vitality and brilliant radiance-from the inside out-is available for YOU! At the very foundation of Root to Rise Yoga, in our deepest root, is the sacred birth-right of Vitality and inner and outer radiance. When your core is Vital you radiate from the inside out, and your entire being emanates health and well-beingness.
From these three “tap-roots”-Integrity, Wholeness and Vitality- we rise into higher states of consciousness and vibration, and return-all-ways- to rest in our heart space. It is my intention through Root to Rise Yoga to offer you practices and practical tools to ground and cultivate deeper and fuller expressions and embodiments of Integrity, assist you in re-membering and re-storing your memory and experience of your Wholenss, and fuel, inspire and awaken your birth-right of sustained and natural Vitality.