Reflection-August 10, 2014 8 months ago I traveled to India with the intention of staying for 2 months to lead a Yoga Retreat and to have a vacation with my boyfriend. We lived together and were planning on getting married, we shared everything and I felt a great deal of pressure to conform to social norms, and to have the marriage that so many woman my age require for their own sense of self. I knew in my heart, that something was missing, and things were not flowing the way my heart needed them too. As painful as it seemed we ended things, and both decided to just be friends. Believe me it was very scary to walk away, when this relationship offered security and was something I was very attached too. He was my best friend and I loved him deeply, but we knew he was not meant to be my life partner. After many tears I told him that since it was over, I wasnt going home. He thought I was crazy, because before this happened I had no intention of suddenly up-rooting and leaving everything behind without the planning required to make a move like this. I said-I am staying in Asia, I have no plan, but I will figure it out. I cried, I prayed, I practiced Yoga, I danced, I made new friends who inspired me to stay strong, I bonded with old ones. I prayed some-more. The more I sat with my decision, the more I began to sit with my authentic self. What does the I need in my life? Being a 38 year old woman has its pressures, like why arent you married, you should have kids, what are you running away from? This theory is a parasite for the human soul, and I have met so many people who are in unhappy marriages, and living the lives they swore they would never live but have because of fear. I dont ever want to have regrets, or wake up in my own skin and wish I was living a different life. The past few months I have been living in Thailand and I just spent the last month co-teaching an amazing Yoga Teachers Training, with a brilliant Team of Teachers that have inspired me, and a body of students who have deeply touched my heart. Its been a journey full of growth, because I was open to receiving what the Universe wants to give me, rather then planning what I need. In just a few days I will fly to Nepal to teach some Workshops and classes for 2 months, and I will go deeper into Buddhist Philosophy and my Vipassana Practice. In November Ive been invited to Teach Workshops at a Yoga Festival in Malaysia where Yoga was not openly practiced until just recently. I feel so lucky to be here, and I am so Thankful that my path has lead me to where I am now. I spoke to my ex-boyfriend a few days ago and he said Rachael you are so courageous, you left everything behind and had no idea what was coming- but you did it anyway. Look at all the opportunities you created for yourself, all the amazing places you have been, look at the dream life you created for yourself now? I didnt realize it until just then when he wrote it all out. He was right. I am living my dream, and after almost 2 decades of dedicating my life to my Yoga practice, to being honest with my path, to being open, to facing my fears I am walking into the unknown with less fear and more love. This is a Testimony that Yoga is a potent alchemy which gives you tools that can transform every aspect of your life. It will take you to places emotionally, physically, spiritually that you could not imagine. It pushes us to be Seekers, and to find meaning and purpose in everything we do. Yoga leads us to the deepest hidden parts both internally and externally. Maybe into the magical, colorful, scared places of Asia if your lucky! Stay on the path, and practice, practice, practice- all is coming. Rachael Fallon -Yogini
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 04:49:47 +0000