Ananda Fest

What a beautiful weekend.

I had the tremendous honor of being a participant in the first annual Anandafest - a weekend yoga retreat gathering of amazing music, incredible teachers, inspiring speakers, unbelievable food and an undeniable feeling of complete joy. Not only was the weather absolutely pristine in Keswick but the Loretto Maryholme Spiritual Center is a place of utter serenity and true natural beauty. Ananda, in Sanskrit, means Bliss. And, for me, that's exactly what the weekend embodied.

It was my first time at the Loretto Maryholme Center and I arrived with a bit of trepidation - not really knowing what to expect. But I was immediately calmed, as soon as I stepped onto the property. It helped that the place is gorgeous and that the grounds were full of smiling, beaming, positive people doing yoga, playing music and sharing stories about their loves,their lives, and what it means to commit to being yourself in a world that's constantly trying to make you something else. It was an absolute pleasure and I was so incredibly humbled and so touched to even be invited to take part.

I was reminded this weekend just how important community is. That feeling of being around passionate like-minded people who are all working in the world in a way that strives to create healing (both for ourselves and those we work with); is something that is so sacred to me. Sometimes it's so easy to disappear into our relationships - trying to make one other person our whole world. I see so much of this. People secluding themselves away into their little corners of the city trying to "make it work" by isolating themselves into their own private perfect little worlds. When the reality is that it really does "take a village" and life really is more fulfilling when we are growing, learning and working within a supportive framework of community.

Something powerful comes out of the ability to get together, to share and connect with others; to let yourself be seen...and to see without judgement. When we do that we realize we really are all the same. When you let go of all the pretentiousness, you realize we really are all working on the same shit, longing for the exact same things. The illusion of separateness dissolves and our hearts open just a little bit more. Powerful things can come out of isolation too. But the opportunity to really learn, reflect and grow increases exponentially when we connect.

One of the highlights of the weekend for me was listening to a couple of talks by both Jeff Brown (author of the book Soulshaping) and Colin Matthews (owner of Kula Yoga Studio in Burlington.) It was so interesting to listen to these men speak about their experiences of relationship as a spiritual practice, about taking responsibly and about what it means from a dude's perspective to really live authentically. Jeff put it so eloquently while speaking about 'The Awakened Man' when he said "Success without integrity is karmically incorrect." And that most men are searching for their power and their meaning in life by getting power over others (through various forms of competition) or by becoming attached to all the stuff they "have" and how much money they can make. The point was made that more than half of all yoga or self-help groups are women. Why? Simply - because the work hasn't proven itself yet as economically viable. Men are still so attached to just that one side of themselves. Why explore feeling? What's the point?

Colin continued along that line during his talk when he spoke about the importance of staying connected to yourself and not trying to have all the answers. Instead - experiment constantly. Keep listening and asking yourself - How do I feel? How am I making others feel?

He said the Universe never asks - why me? But instead - What of me? What is this situation asking of me?

When we shift the inner focus like that an answer comes. Always. And, there will always be a call to action. Always. He said, for him, that question was constant in his relationship(s) - What of me? The most powerful thing we can do is to sit, fully, in our own heart; even when we're hurting. To be able to say "I'm really angry right now." without blame or judgement. To own, fully and responsibly, all our 'stuff' without trying to make someone else to blame. Colin said - "As humans, if we can sit in a place where we can understand each other's needs - we will always get our needs met."

Essentially the whole weekend was a reminder for me that we are all, always, constantly creating our own reality. And that my intention is to live authentically at all times. To sit in my heart, even when I'm hurting. When we focus on being truly our authentic selves it's easier to accept things as they are. It's all ok the way it is. It's a practice of showing up, being fully present, as me, myself, and being fully receptive. I don't have all the answers. If you know a way that I can show up in the world that will make me feel better, happier, more fulfilled - please - share! I'd love to know. And if at first I don't understand - please - be patient with me so we can both grow.