Hocus Pocus
Embracing Resistance (Yoga Style)
I’ve never seen Hocus Pocus.
I’m pretty sure this is a crime-at least it is to my Halloween-loving friends. You see, I’ve never fully embraced Halloween because my birthday falls right around that time. And “never fully embraced” is being generous. Honestly, strongly resisted would be a more accurate description.
Anyone who has a birthday around a holiday knows what I’m talking about: said holiday stealing your birthday spotlight. As a kid, it was hard to feel like the center of attention when a giant hot dog was much more compelling to, well, most everyone. Who can compete with a newborn dressed as a pumpkin? Or a toddler showing off his Spider-Man moves? And let’s not forget the big bowl of candy.
I’ve spent most of my life resisting Halloween, and yet October 31st arrives every single year—bigger, louder, and more popular than ever.
This reminds me of the saying…“What you resist, persists.”
Have you ever noticed how something you resist or avoid seems to linger, quietly—or sometimes not so quietly—trying to get your attention?
Think about a time when you resisted something. Or avoided it. Do you remember how that resistance showed up in your body. Where did you feel it?
Yoga gives us an opportunity to look inward with curiosity and openness. To notice what’s happening without immediately deciding that we need to change it, fix it, or run away from it.
We practice sitting with what irritates us.
For example: Five more breaths in Down Dog really means ten because yoga teachers apparently can’t count.
We can shift our perspective and laugh about it.
And maybe, eventually, we notice what we we’re resisting isn’t so bad after all.
Huh. This Down Dog actually feels really good in my body.
It is Svadhyaya - the practice of self-study—getting curious about our thoughts, reactions and patterns (perhaps resistance feels constrictive, whereas acceptance creates space).
It is Santosha -practicing contentment with what is, rather than constantly needing it to be different (finding joy in receiving your umpteenth Halloween themed cake, because after all, it’s still cake).
And when we soften our resistance, we create more openness for
Prana-that vital, life force energy that moves through us-to flow the way it is intended-not only for ourselves, but for everyone around us.
So this year, I’m intentionally deciding to embrace Halloween. Not because I’ve suddenly become a Halloween enthusiast. (Let’s not get carried away. I still haven’t seen Hocus Pocus.)mBut because I’m curious about what might happen if I stop avoiding something I’ve spent a lifetime resisting.
There’s another way to experience it.
There’s likely even some joy hiding underneath all that resistance.
And isn’t that a remarkable gift yoga gives us?
So, if you’ve ever had to share the spotlight with a holiday - or if you’re simply trying to make peace with a situation you keep resisting - come join us on the mat.
We can breathe through it together because…
“What we accept, transforms.”
With kindness,
LEANNE
