Natalie Bratcher
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This too shall pass...

3/26/2015

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Let me begin my post today for apologizing to those of you that practice with me regularly for the number of times I've missed you recently for our Thursday classes. This begs me to touch on the topic of impermanence. Growing up, my mother would often remind us in times of struggle that "this too shall pass." This served as a reminder that in time, the perception of time and change would allow us to process the things that were once difficult to handle.

Not too long ago, I had a dear friend give me a Lokai bracelet as a gift - if you haven't yet seen these, check them out at
www.mylokai.com. These bracelets are awesome for so many reasons. One bead of the bracelet is black and contains mud from the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth - reminding us that when we're at our low points in life, to remember to stay hopeful. Another bead of the bracelet is white and contains water from the top of Mount Everest - the highest point on earth - reminding us that even when we're on top of the world, to remain humble. Ultimately, life is full of cycles. The beads in between are clear because amid these cycles, we each have our own story to tell. I had someone notice my bracelet and share with me the yiddish folk tale of King Solomon's magic ring - from which Gam zeh Ya’avor ("This too shall pass") inscribed on a plain silver ring proved a lesson in humility.

All the same, this reminder of impermanence can bring peace whether life is difficult or flowing with ease, whether emotions are high or low, and in either times of extremes or consistency. As of late, it seems that I am being reminded quite frequently that life is full of that which we cannot control. And rather than feeling like I'm struggling to keep my head above water, I am doing my best to recognize the value of every moment. What is there to be learned? What is there to be felt? How can I use this to help others? Be it positive or negative, and this of course is all in how we perceive our reality, isn't it an amazing blessing to simply be? For today, and the moment is all we truly have. Yoga serves to remind us of just this - as we move through our asana practice, we practice letting go of conscious thought, and conscious processing of emotion. We practice serving as this passive observer of our practice, of our lives really, and to express gratitude for that moment when we can let go. So I ask you to practice awareness of impermanence. Let "This too shall pass" shake you from complacency and enhance your life - Don’t waste a single moment!

This post is dedicated to my parents, who taught me from a young age to practice gratitude for all that is.
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    I live in Chicago with my partner Tim, our 34 year old turtle Freddie, and 7 year old dog Fagan. We just lost our 21 year old cat, sweet Belle, may she rest in peace until we meet again. We live in Lincoln Park and absolutely love living in the city. We enjoy taking Fagan to the park every day, living so close to the lake and the beach, the restaurants and the food, and the energy of the city... there is just so much to love. I love my job and enjoy a full-time career as an animal welfare research scientist, a role that I worked quite hard to establish. But this is just a part of my life, and I am a big believer in a balanced life. Not long ago, I was very much a hermit... I didn't get out much beyond work, didn't have a lot to identify with... My life has really opened itself to me in the past 5 years. Finding balance and connectedness was an inside job that required time. It's amazing how much happiness, connection and balance can bring. In our free time, Tim & I enjoy working our independent business, where we have met amazing people and formed lasting friendships. That, and we're excited to building supplemental and residual income! I also love everything music - see my Music and Yoga Playlists blog for more on that- but I enjoy both playing and listening to music. I also enjoy cooking, spending time with friends and family, and staying healthy by exercising and practicing yoga. I discovered yoga only a few years ago, during that moment in my life where I was seeking balance and connection. The timing was perfect, and yoga helped me to find peace in accepting that at any moment, life is as it should be. I immediately knew I wanted to become a teacher, to share with others the experience and practice that was so profound in my own life. I completed my 200-hour teacher training in 2014 with Alyson D'Souza at Village Yoga Chicago. As a yoga teacher, I appreciate the practice from a different perspective and am grateful to be able to share it with others, seeing the profound impact it has on the lives of those who practice.

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