Shift and change are possible at any moment.

Hi Reader,

I’m back this week with another story from yoga class.

Last week the teacher shared that no matter what has happened in the past, a shift and change are possible at any moment. Healing is possible. Some people call this grace, she said, and it is always available to us—if we are open to receiving it.

It didn't take long for the tears to come.

Of course my mind darted immediately to my body and its physical healing. But there’s also a host of other things happening in my personal life that can benefit from a shift and change—and it sometimes feels like I’ve been waiting for those shifts for a very long time.

All of those emotions welled up inside me and spilled out for the first fifteen or so minutes of class. I used to be so self-conscious about crying during a yoga class; I never wanted anyone to notice and would wipe my face to hide the tears or try to keep the sniffling quiet. But I don’t really care anymore, and besides, I’m usually sweating so much that I’m convinced people can’t tell whether it’s tears or sweat dripping down my face.

So I have learned to keep moving, through the sweat, through the tears, and on this day I felt a strength and energy returning to my body that I haven’t felt for a very long time. Even though the tingling and numbness from persisting neuropathy started to flare up in my hands (which happens with heat and constant use), the muscles in my hands surprisingly did not feel as weak and achy as they usually do.

These subtle shifts are how I know that repair and recovery have been happening all along. It’s also how I know I can test my limits by trying a move or pose that hasn’t been available to me.

When the teacher called side-plank I didn’t hesitate or retreat into child’s pose as I do when I need to rest or let my hands cool off by placing them on the two ice packs I bring with me to every class.

Instead, I rotated my feet to the right and held myself up with my right arm, left arm straight up in the air, and without my knee resting on the mat for extra support as I have been doing for nearly two years since experiencing a major relapse of MS in August 2022. Then I also did it on the left side and the tears started to flow again.

I came home from class and snapped this photo of myself to help me remember the experience.

There have been other, smaller shifts that have happened. In that same class, I also attempted crow pose (balancing on hands with knees on elbows or triceps) for the first time since the relapse, and promptly lost my balance, falling forward. But I tried.

For the past two weeks or so I had noticed that I had stamina to continue movement past the thirty-minute mark in the class, when previously making it to thirty minutes before resting had been my goal.

Shift and change are possible at any moment.

If we are open to them.

The second part is key for me: remaining open to the shift. To the change. To grace.

Because how easy would it be for me to say, “Sure, I did side-plank today but I wasn’t able to hold it the entire time.” Or, “Sure, I tried to do crow pose, but I fell forward right away.” Or, “Sure, I didn’t have to rest at thirty minutes, but I did have to rest at forty-five!”

Being open to receive grace not only means allowing the shift and change to happen, but also acknowledging when it does.

What shifts or changes have you experienced lately? Hit reply to this email to let me know.

Janna

p.s. I just re-recorded and updated my free masterclass for women writing nonfiction on the 3 shifts you need to make to finally write (and finish!) your book. Sign up here.