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As a Yoga teacher, I've always been fascinated by the way festivals like Holi can evoke strong emotions and energies. The music, the food, the changing season, the stories from our Itihaas—Prahlad's story, The Narsingh Avatar, Lord Krishna's Holi Leela. So beautiful! Growing up, however, I had a complicated relationship with Holi. It usually coincided with exam season, and I found myself torn between the excitement of celebrating Holi with friends and the guilt of not studying.
To be honest, I have always been more of a Diwali person. There's something about the lights, the decorations that resonate with me. Holi, on the other hand, felt unsettling until I realized it was my internal chaos and fears coloring my emotions.
However, as I grew older and started learning and teaching Yoga, I began to appreciate the unique energy of Holi. I realized that the festival was not just about throwing colors and celebrating with friends but about embracing the full spectrum of human emotions.
One Holi celebration stands out in my memory. I typically make sure I conduct classes on special Hindu festivals; something changes in the energies that I can sense. It was one such Holi when Sahan, my dear friend and one of my first students, surprised me by walking over with a pack of colors after class and offering to put some color on me. She gently put a handful of colors on my face, and suddenly I was immersed in overwhelming emotions. It was a moment of pure joy and abandon, and it marked the beginning of my journey to embracing the beauty of Holi. I took this picture when I returned from the class.
As a Yoga teacher, I believe that it's essential to acknowledge and honor all emotions, not just the ones that feel comfortable or convenient. By embracing the full range of human emotions, we can learn to recognize them, understand their roots, and take the necessary actions to heal and grow.
I clicked this on my son's desk recently. The thing that caught my attention was how he wrote: Anger=Neuroplasticity=Learning
He's figured out his coping mechanism to deal with anger and how it can be an opportunity for learning. I haven't told him I clicked this, you know—teenage son, preachy Yoga mom. LOL!
So this Holi, I invite you to join me in embracing the colors of life—not just the vibrant hues of the festival, but the full spectrum of human emotions. Let's come together to celebrate the beauty of imperfection, the power of vulnerability, and the joy of living life to the fullest.
In my class, we'll be exploring the themes of embracing emotions, cultivating self-awareness, and honoring the beauty of imperfection. Join us as we embark on this journey of self-discovery and celebration
Happy Holi!
Share Your Holi Experiences with me! How do you celebrate Holi? What are some of your favorite memories of the festival? Share your experiences with me in the comments below!
Let's keep the conversation going! Sharing the event detail below if you can join in!
Holi hein!!!
My association with holi is devine and spritual in the evening of holika dahan and next day Dhuleti fully excited ....as a child we use to have buckets and buckets of water ballons, pichkaris with coloured water and lot of fun with friends
I enjoyed colouring my friends with multipla colour and with mud