Why I am marching

on Wednesday, 18 January 2017.

Cox Yoga Heashots 56 450As a yoga student and teacher it is almost daily that I press my palms together at the center of my heart and whisper the words “The love and the light within me honors and bows to the love and the light within each of you.” It is then that I bow my forehead towards the earth in gratitude to all those that love me, give me strength and support me. I bow to my teachers everywhere and to all that are present at the time. Whether I am part of class beside my community or up in front we bow together in support of one another to continue to let our light shine. Yoga is very much a practice of knowing your body, discovering the breath to help you move into a posture, and being present in each moment on your mat. It is also about the collective breath, spirit, and energy of those people in which you practice next to.

The day after it was determined who had won the 2016 Presidential election I e-mailed my dear aunt Fran a bumbling e-mail. It was not a note with much clarity other than I was confused and could not imagine what this meant for the future. Her response was one of devastation but quickly followed the next day with word that a group of women from her community and women all over the country were going to gather in solidarity in our Nation's Capital. She asked me if I would like to join her group. I mulled over the question for a few short hours and could not think of a reason not to so I said yes. I have a yoga teacher who I always think of when I say yes to the unknow.Cox Yoga Heashots 33 350 She says “be a YES”! Just jump in and try, if you never try you will never know. Not having ever been to a peaceful march or political rally at our Nation's Capital I certainly have no idea what to expect but like my yoga community and every time I come to my mat I know that it will be a space where I can let my light shine just by being me and showing up. I often read this portion of Mariam Wilson’s poem “Our Deepest Fear”, it is perfectly eloquent for this moment;

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Cox Yoga Heashots 69 250 wTogether each woman that shows up to The March on Washington allows the next woman to let their light shine, together we will light up the world.

This march is not a protest on the inauguration of our country's new President but a peaceful march for like minded men and women of all ages and race that believe “Women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights”. The organizers of The Women’s March on Washington have published a document outlining a few of the many issues that moving forward all people of power need to understand are important to women.

Similar to the way in which I bow to my practice every time I step onto my yoga mat I am going to Washington, DC in order to bow in gratitude to the leaders who have the strength and see the importance of coming together in order to be heard as one voice for equal rights.

All professional photos for this post were taken by Suzanna March Photography a dear friend and fellow bad ass!

Suzanna March Photography - Lifestyle & Fitness

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