I had a friendly connection, with Pam. We were at Uni together on the same course. At that time, I was 19 she was a year younger, her birth sign Aries, I’m a Scorpio. It seemed to be a thing in those days when there was an exchange of birth signs and I suppose an ice breaker. I was a shy student, meeting my student life with some trepidation. I was not totally convinced I was on the correct trajectory with the course that I had chosen. But here I was and no going back at this point.
Pam was a home student, her roots in Indian culture, I understood her.
We spent many hours together. But we have not met in 20years. A lasting photo of us both (above)
Memories of Pam were recently triggered whilst I was stripping wallpaper, the laborious continuum settling the mind and igniting the heart to speak. There I found myself intricately recalling past memories. So that evening I searched social media but found no trace, my heart sank.
A loss …how to we deal with them?
Back in those days I knew nothing about Yoga although my sister had talked about Drew Yoga but in all honesty, it wasn’t anything of interest.
Yoga is often distorted and we consider it simply as a set of poses. But, there is something more beautiful happening.
The true measure of progress in Yoga lies in the inner transformation that occurs through dedicated practice. Advanced yoga is about how well you apply the teachings of yoga to your life, fostering personal evolution and contributing to the well-being of others, rather than simply showcasing physical feats.
What I have found with my practice that I have become more my authentic myself; this requires embracing the full spectrum of experiences – joy, pain, peace, and struggle. Authenticity in yoga means being honest with yourself and others about your journey, including the difficult parts.
There has been a cultivation of compassionate action, recognising the interconnectedness of all beings and the importance of addressing social injustices.
Yoga is teaching us to act with compassion, which sometimes means confronting uncomfortable truths and working towards change.
The mind becomes sharper, balancing positivity with reality. While maintaining a positive outlook is valuable, it’s important to balance this with a willingness to face and address life’s challenges. Our true healing and growth happen when we can integrate both light and shadow.
We learn to acknowledge pian and suffering, recognising that discomfort, pain, and suffering are part of the human experience. Instead of avoiding these aspects, engage with them compassionately, both within yourself and in others.
I hope to reunite my connection with Pam one day.
Wishing you a happy August …
Jagdeep x
