GGG February Yoga blog: Spicy Cocktail of Yoga, Wellness and Lent
For those of you reading this in the Midwest, we are knee deep in 'second' winter and headed towards spring break, Easter and waiting patiently for longer days, warmer temps and time spent outdoors.
Time to get our mindset in the optimal place that allows for peace:
leading to health
leading to growth
leading to kicking butt
I teach yoga…so why am I talking about Lent?
I am a Christian, but not Catholic. I don’t practice Lent in the way that many others might. However, I really like the idea of eliminating bad habits and creating new ones for 40 days with the goal of getting closer to God through the process and getting those new habits to stick around. I like the idea of eliminating habits that are keeping us from peace, greater connection with God and/or adding in habits to make life lighter, better, more loving, more generous and more peaceful.
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Traditionally, Lent is meant to have 3 pillars:
- Fasting
- Almsgiving
- Prayer
I try to practice these things all year, but I need a reset for sure. I want to hear the still, small voice that the chaotic and busy world tries to blasts away. Lent, like goals, need to be simple and clear with action steps. Hope these ideas below give you a place to start a customized plan for yourself.
1 - Fasting (of bad habits/poor mindset)
This covers a lot of ground for me.
This might be:
- shooting for moderation instead of the breakneck speed or quantity I choose for my activities lists on the regular
- being kinder to myself, speaking nicer to myself, giving myself permission to meet needs that I may have been ignoring
- giving up garbage entertainment/scrolling, for real rest/sleep
- eating whole foods whenever possible and not giving in to processed foods that don’t fuel my body (knowing a real reward is nourishing food)
Fasting is less about deprivation…and more about clearing space for me
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2 – Almsgiving
Almsgiving, for me, means stretching generosity beyond what feels comfortable or convenient. It’s extra giving of time, energy, and presence (and sometimes cash)
It may look like:
- serving my loved ones or my community with more intention
- offering help not just when it’s easy, but when it requires patience, humility, or sacrifice
Sometimes it means stepping into acts of service that stretch my skills, my schedule, or even my emotional capacity, and choosing to show up anyway.
It can also be tangible, like giving resources, money, meals and practical help.
It may mean offering something I would normally charge for (like a yoga session).
At its core, almsgiving is about loosening our grip on what we think is “ours” such as our time, our energy and our resources. Also, generosity expands the heart.
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3 - Prayer
This one is a little more streamlined.
For me this means:
- prayer
- devotional time
- quiet time
- reflecting
- journaling
- listening
- not jumping up to fill the space or solve the problem immediately
However, if I am too stressed, tired or fidgety, I may need to:
- take a walk
- work out
- go outside and ‘play’
- spend time with loved ones
I may need these to get into a physical and emotional state that will allow me to pray intentionally.
Movement often creates the emotional and physical space necessary for intentional prayer.
And that’s where yoga beautifully fits in.
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Whether You Practice Lent or Not…
Consider asking yourself:
- What can I fast from?
- How can I give or serve more intentionally?
- How do I connect with my values and garner more peace, guidance, and clarity?
Forty-days of mindful shifts can create lasting change
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Bringing Yoga Into the Season
If you’d like to weave yoga into your Lent or simply into your everyday life…come join us.
Reach out. Email and I will email back (or call back).
Until then, I hope you have a beautiful day.
Hugs,
Leah
Leah Vaughan
Grace, Growth and Grit Studio
info@gracegrowthgritstudio.com
