Stepping into Power

The first time I heard the words - “step into your power” - was in a yoga class in Sydney in 2006. The word power for me at that time had various meanings and interpretations. When I heard power I heard be strong, be forceful, push yourself. I identified with it as a fight for what you want attitude and way of being. I had visions of being in a boxing ring and doing rounds with a larger than life guy who could pummel me in two seconds flat and I was prepared to stand there, take the beating and fight back with all of my might.  On reflection it was very much how I was living my life. Fighting for what I wanted - the next job, the next promotion, the next pay rise, the next move, the next holiday, the next man - and it was slowly killing my spirit.  

The irony of the situation was that my yoga practice was at a power yoga studio and I was practically living there, getting on my mat most days and taking my body through the asana practice as if my life depended on it.  As it turns out my life did depend on it.

My yoga practice in all its forms - asana, meditation, pranayama, connecting to heart & spirit - has been my saving grace for most of my adult life and continues to be the ritual I embrace to bring myself home to me.

Over the last few months, these words - step into your power - have come up in every aspect of my life and it has been an incredibly freeing time. I have stepped into freelance life, I am teaching yoga more, I am coaching people, I am valuing time with friends and family and I am more open to new possibilities and life then I have ever been before.  Now I am not saying it has been without its challenges as there have been a few of those too! However, these learnings allow me to grow and tune into what I believe serves my higher purpose and what I can acknowledge, be grateful for and let go of to move forward, to move more into me. 

There is power in knowing what we want and what we are committed to creating in our lives. There is also power in allowing life to flow and embracing the journey that we are here to experience. This has never been more present for me than right now and it has allowed me to connect to power in a new way. 

Reframing and creating a new identity for the word power in my life has enabled me to recognise what my yoga teacher was speaking to all those years ago. 

Power is standing in my truth; connecting to my heart; and accepting, valuing and loving me for who I am always. It is a practice and for me it is carving out time every day to connect to my power and stand in it freely without fear, shame or guilt. 

It is allowing my inner light to shine and to be compassionate, kind and in gratitude for life as I experience it. Power is also honouring the journey that I am on wherever it leads me. I believe that the universe has a plan and right now I have faith and I trust that all is happening as it is meant to.