Learning to be Present through YTT

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been told to look to the future and create goals and do the work for my “next” self. What no one ever told me was that what’s really important is myself in the present moment. YTT lifted the veil on this concept for me.

A self-confessed control freak, I am ALWAYS planning ahead. While I am spontaneous and tend to make quick, big decisions if they whisper to my soul, cogs in my head start to turn to plan out exactly what I need to do to get to that thing or that place that I want. And sometimes that serves me- but when I’m constantly in that state of mind I am missing out on the life that is here right now in front of me…. that is time I will never get back.

Yoga has taught me that life should be savoured. When the twirling of the mind stops, something really magical happens to the physical and mental body. Everything softens, silence becomes sacred, gratitude, peace, and love floods in. While I write this on the eve of our final YTT weekend, I am already mourning the end of this journey with my Lightbearer sisters. But it’s not really the end. We’re finishing up this leg and starting to prep for whatever it is to come, but what I want more than anything is to be fully present with my community and soak up every last beautiful second we have left together.

I feel called to guide people to find excitement and possibility in their life, and pause to observe and be in the present moment, which may feel good or downright terrible at times, but each moment brings a lesson to carry us through all the rest. The light in me is ready to shine and collide with the light in you to illuminate the beauty in our world.

INTEND TO SHINE,

Laura Whitlock