www.adrienneshum.com
www.adrienneshum.com
Dear <<First Name>>,

History is a messy and complicated thing, and yoga is no exception. The roots of yoga are intertwined with those of Buddhism, stretching back thousands of years to ancient India. While purists might try to keep these two practices separate, their philosophies complement eachother and we can learn much from their healthy co-existence. 

Sometimes, I find that an aspect from one of these practices more readily ignites an inner spark; a concept is presented in such a way that rings so clear. Lately, that has been the Buddhist practice of Conscious Speech - using our words skilfully, in a way that uplifts compassion, accuracy, and helpfulness.

Writing these letters are a little tricky; there are a few hundred of you subscribing to this newsletter (thanks, by the way!), and while that is definitely small cheese compared to others, for me, I don’t know what singular message would be meaningful and somehow suitable for each and every one of you. It seems to me that this mode of communication is better suited to declarations, not discourse.

These days, I’m more interested in discussions, because that’s where I learn the most, especially when exploring the complex and nuanced issues that we are grappling with on local and global levels. There is a place known as Real Life, and it exists concurrently with Internet/Social Media Life, and it’s in IRL where I am having those discussions. It’s a place where I can say one thing to someone, and then can say something slightly different to someone else, to take into account who is in front me, an individual, in their individuality - and I modify my speech in accordance to that.

It’s also a place where I practise Conscious Listening, the counterpart to Conscious Speech, because receiving words is just as important as saying them. It’s weird to write that out, but when we think of how we are communicating online (which is taking up more and more mindshare with its noise), it is a definitively different type of relay - and we are losing the art of conversation very quickly.

That being said, I do appreciate when others post their views/declarations online - they spark a lot of reflection! - and we all have our preferred ways. I only share mine as an example, in case it is helpful to someone else. Life is a lot messier than the grid layouts and character limits online.

So let’s choose our words carefully.
Let’s listen attentively.
Let’s take good care of eachother.

In gratitude,
Adrienne
As the yoga studios begin to reopen their spaces, I have to be honest and say that while I’m thankful for the opportunity to teach in-person, I am also unsure if it’s the right thing. It is a complicated choice, and I imagine it is that way for many. If you do not feel ready to return to in-person classes, I encourage you to respect your process. Feel free to continue practising to our YouTube videos (find our latest one below!), and may they help you build the agility and resilience to shift with the times.
FIND THAT SPACE AND GRACE
Thank you for practising to our YouTube videos, and especially to those who have reached out with personal messages and donations to support our offerings. It truly helps to keep us going (in terms of morale, in paying the bills, in all the ways!). If you have the means to give and would like to support the teachings, please click the button below. 
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Is your mind frayed from reading all the short quips that characterize the news/social media? Do you crave a juicy book? Head on over to my recently updated Resources webpage for my favourite reads on yoga, food, Ayurveda, social justice, and more —>>>
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Adrienne Shum · by the Assiniboine River · Winnipeg, Mb R3L · Canada

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