Empowered Transitions
If life is a flow then along with it we must go, understanding that at certain times circumstances come to a sense of completion but that nothing is ever final. We may come to an end of a journey but there is always the next step. As one experiment comes to a close, another is sure to begin.
As my experiment with Whole30 comes to its completion, I am keenly aware of the idea of empowered transitions. In vinyasa yoga, practitioners flow directly from one pose to another, often in rhythm with the breath: for example, exhaling into Downward Dog and inhaling into Warrior I. It is easy to get caught up in the idea that each pose is separate from one another and that the inhale is independent of the exhale, however, in both there is a delicate space in between, the transition. As one begins to release from Downward Dog into Warrior I, the inhale initiates a slight curvature of the back at the base of spine, drawing one’s weight forward into the arms. The knee flexes and draws forward into the chest, the core engages and the toe points, as the foot begins to draw through. The foot is then placed gently on the mat, knee at 90 degrees, with the back heel angled towards the floor, creating another anchor, then the abdominals, obliques, and back muscles engage as the body prepares to balance its trunk between the front ankle and back leg, approaching the climax at the top of the breath. Once balance is achieved, the arms are brought forward and up, and finally we have the pause at the top of the inhale and Warrior I. As you can read from the description, a lot happens from one pose to another and there is no exact moment that creates a delineation of separation. The transition is just as important as the final posture, as is the pause at the top of an inhale and the bottom of an exhale. Even in a more structured yoga practice, such as Bikram where one stops and starts a pose at a certain time, there are still moments of transition where one can be present to the movement at hand.
Transitions are very telling and give us the opportunity to create the foundation for moments to come. It is not time that need be stopped, rather it is the discovery of how we can manipulate time by utilizing the space in between, where there is no time, just full presence. In our awareness to each transition in life, we are gifted with the power of choice and the ability to shape our own experience. This means taking ourselves off autopilot and saying to ourselves that, “All moments (feelings, emotions, and all) are welcome,” for all too often we are merely fearful of that space in between because we fear what may come.
You are the master of this very moment, and all other moments to come. Do not fool yourself and give your power away to the flow of life, for within the flow there is the opportunity of empowered transitions. It is the yoga of life. Tomorrow, as I release the guidelines I chose to follow over the last 30 days, I recognize my power to choose what is best for my health and well-being. My intention stays intact, to live a healthy, meaningful, and peaceful life, however, the experiment continues, just in a different form. I shall begin to slowly introduce oats, granola, yogurt, etc., however, I am empowered by how in the last 30 days I reclaimed any habit that was not in alignment with my life’s intention. I am grateful to say that I recovered a certain sense of power, not just from certain foods, but also in how I related to them and used them. During this challenge I did not let myself have a “cheat.” And when I say, “cheat,” I mean that I did not feed my food dragons, even with food that was permitted on the Whole30, such as dates. I love dates, especially with a little bit of almond butter. Yes, it is a healthy vice and much better than a piece of cake, however, it can become unhealthy when overused or used to soothe me emotionally. Throughout these 30 days, I have not wanted to just take the guidelines at face value but to use them to delve deeper into my psyche, and in order to do so, I had to be aware, not just from meal to meal, but also in the moments in between, daring to place myself in that space between the cracks where I welcomed all moments (feelings, emotions, and all).
As one releases from the grips of certain guidelines, such as in a diet, cleanse, or fast, there is a period of transition that is the reintroduction. This is not only so that the body can accommodate the new demands but also to aid in integrating the mind and spirit. The mind and spirit love it when we are present in transitions for it is when they are heard the most, and they love to be heard. Such wisdom can be imparted to us if we but only abide in that space in between and listen, instead of lingering with the question that comes at the close of anything, “What’s next?”
What’s next is the next step, a continuation of the flow of life. The difference is now we are more aware of its rhythm and how we can incorporate our own pace into the flow. The difference is we are different and that makes all the difference in the world. We are much more awake to make conscious decisions based upon our highest intentions. We recognize that we are no longer victim to time but the masters of it. What is next is based upon how you engage with this very moment at hand. If you want peace in the coming moments of life, create it now. If you want to finally start that new venture, do it now. As the adage goes, “Time waits on no one.”
Transitions can be left as just transitions, if you wish, but if you were to simply add your attention and awareness, it can become an empowered transition, a moment outside of time charged with your fullest potential. In fulfilling my commitment to Whole30, I learned more than just nutritional information and how to better fuel my body. I discovered how to reclaim more of my innate power, and in order to integrate that into the next step, well, I must be just as present in the transition, knowing that tomorrow is not separate from today. Tomorrow is today. Namaste.