#stillness

#stillness

Most of us are addicted to motion. We fill every moment because slowing down forces us to face what is really happening inside. Sitting still, truly being with yourself, can feel unbearable at first. It is uncomfortable, but it is also where truth lives. If you can sit quietly, even for a few minutes, you will start to hear what is real instead of what you are performing. That is the beginning of clarity.

Village elders offered these powers-stillness and compassion-in lullabies hummed as they fastened tiny saddles, in laps that welcomed small bodies and soothed anxious hearts, and in gentle gazes that shimmered beneath the stars. Slowly, these two powers soaked in, one moment of care at a time, seeping into each child's bones and settling into their hearts. Before they even knew it, the village's children were walking hand in hand with stillness and compassion (Boyette & Hewlett, 2017; Doucleff, 2019).

A quick practice is sort of antithetical to yin yoga. It's defined by extended holds that not only target your physical tension but boost your mental resilience. Yin yoga asks that you go to your edge, recognize it, and stay there. It's all about slow stretches and stillness that, ultimately, help you sit more comfortably with discomfort. But let's be real. We live in an aggressively busy society, which is probably why shorter sequences with these longer holds resonate with readers.