The Way In is the Way Out

My yoga teacher training faculty and I have a saying. “The way in is the way out.”

The image of the ancient nautilus aptly captures this process of growth from the inside out. It grows by chambers. When it outgrows one chamber, it grows another larger chamber within which to house its expanded self.

The spiral of the nautilus represents the process of growth. How does the nautilus know it needs to grow other than by its own self-reflection and evolution? It sees that its current confines are limiting,recognizes the need for spaceand then consciously grows a new chamber. Each chamber serves its purpose for a time, just as truth or insight serves its purpose for a time in our own lives. But after a time, that truth no longer serves the highest. The nautilus then must move on, lest it cease to grow and instead die.

The nautilus is a reminder of our own tendency to get comfortable with our current chamber as the destination and lose sight of the journey.

Asana is the outer chamber. It is designed to create a container for your growth. Each time your fire your vessel by practicing, you make it ready for expansion and change. But examining your inner resources are required in order to expand. Otherwise, growth ceases, and like the nautilus, death follows.

This week, bring your journal to class. Afterwards, write! Write about how you felt. Just write non-stop for five minutes! You will find your way in deeper than you have ever imagined possible. And who knows what gem you will find there?

Happy mining.

Love and light,