Gifts for the New Year
by Janet Arnold-Grych
The winding down of another year naturally invites reflection. What have I discovered? What have I learned? What have I contributed? In my evaluation, I inevitably find myself thinking back to my time at Kripalu, always a highlight of my year. Kripalu always leaves me with an armful of parting gifts. These lessons and reminders provide rich soil for the way I approach life. Here’s what I want to remember in the new year.
Carve out time for stillness. In stillness, I find I am able to stop chasing the echo of the mundane and open to a wider call, a deeper knowledge. Kripalu reminds me to make time to walk in nature or get on the cushion, and to be fully present when I am there.
Unbox your inner diva every now and then. At Kripalu, I love wearing the things that don’t make it out of my drawers very often—the brightly colored scarves and funky earrings. And I love moving with abandon during Kripalu YogaDance®. It’s important to allow that side to shine now and then—it feeds a more holistic me.
For gosh sakes, just try it. Whether it’s taking a different type of yoga class, sampling a tofu curry, or talking with someone who appears to be very different from me, there’s inevitably something exciting to be discovered from jumping in. Kripalu reminds me there is such fun to be found in trying new things.
Say grace. During silent breakfast in particular, I feel compelled to say thanks for the beautiful food I’m about to consume. It’s not just about the words—it’s about a true, down-to-my-bones sense of gratitude for the food that has made it to my plate, with the help of many people along the way. I find that this simple act stays with me as I leave the table, and enhances my awareness of the grace all around me.
Eat with attention to the body. The body knows what it needs on the path to wellness. I’m always amazed that I don’t crave sugar or even caffeine at Kripalu. When I listen to my body, I make food choices that make me feel stronger and healthier. I need to listen.
Recognize that all this matters. In the beginning, my goal at Kripalu was to power down and bliss up before returning to “reality.” Right here, right now is reality, and integrating these takeaways from Kripalu brings me more into my reality. When I simplify, listen, and move from my heart, I am stepping more fully into the moment—and that’s what I want my coming year to be all about.
Janet Arnold-Grych is a yoga teacher and writer who work has been published in Elephant Journal, Huffington Post, Third Coast Digest, and other outlets.