What we gather, we carry

Lately, I’ve been sitting with a reflection from one of my teachers, Asha Nayaswami. She speaks about how it is easy to feel peaceful when life is quiet, but learning how to tend our inner world when things feel unsettled is actually the whole point of the practice.

She asks a simple but powerful question: What are you gathering? What we read, listen to, talk about, move through, and surround ourselves with each day all come with us when we interact with others, sit to meditate, lie down to sleep, or step back into the world. When things feel agitating or uncertain, she reminds us that immersing ourselves in calming, nourishing spaces (like movement, music, meaningful conversation, and shared practice) is not avoidance. It’s how we build the inner steadiness to meet life with clarity and care.

As we move through the world, I invite you to notice what you’re gathering and to remember that response-ability is a choice. We get to choose, where we can, what helps us feel more steady, present, and at home in ourselves.

If this teaching resonates with you and you’d like to explore more of Asha’s reflections, you can find a collection of her articles and teachings on her website.

Something nourishing to read

With that in mind, I’m happy to share our next selection for Winnie’s Book Club. We’ll be reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

If you’ve been waiting for a book that explores connection, curiosity, and the quiet ways our lives intersect, this is the one for you.

How to join the club? Simply read the book, or just show up for the snacks and good conversation. Our next Snack & Chat will be Thursday, February 26, from Noon to 2 pm at Mammen Family Library. As always, you’re welcome whether you’ve read every page or not a single one.

Ways to gather in the coming weeks

If gathering through movement and shared space is what your nervous system is craving, I’d love to see you at one(or all!)of these upcoming offerings:

This Sunday, February 1, we’ll gather at Trilogy Hill Country for our Soulful Sunday yoga and sound bath. We’ll begin with yoga at 9:30 am, followed by a sound bath experience with Cherie at 10:30 am. It’s a slow, grounding morning designed to help you settle in and reset. You’re welcome to join for yoga, sound, or stay for both.

We also have two upcoming classes at Spring Creek Garden Center that I’m really looking forward to (not gonna lie, it has a lot to do with the food😋):

*Wednesday, Feb 4, join me for Happy Hour Yoga at 5:30 pm
*Friday, Feb 20, come out for Brunch Yoga at 10:30 am

These classes are held in the new Gathering Haus and tend to fill up quickly, so I highly recommend reserving your spot in advance if you plan to attend. Click the button(s) below to sign up:

A note about drop-in passes: after purchasing your pass, be sure to book the class you’re coming to. Sometimes passes are purchased without a class selected, and for Spring Creek classes, booking ensures we hold your spot. If you purchased a pass recently and it now looks like it expired, let me know.

Carry on

Whatever you choose to gather, whether it is words from books, poses from classes, deep breaths from the depths, or time from the people you cherish, may it bring steadiness and ease into your days. Remember, only you can make space for what matters.

With love,
Monica

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