I just returned from a most transformative experience in the Pocono Mountains.
My heart is overflowing with gratitude and a profound sense of wonder.
For weeks, I had been bubbling with anticipation, not just for the beautiful setting I love so much at the Himalayan Institute, but for the opportunity to co-lead another yoga retreat with my dear friend and fellow facilitator, Amy Soucy.
And let me tell you, the Universe had so much more in store for me than I could have ever imagined this year.
Our participants began to arrive; a diverse group of souls from all walks of life.
Each carried their own stories, their own hopes, and their own vulnerabilities.
The days unfolded with a beautiful rhythm: morning meditations, mid-morning deep-dive yoga sessions, free time afternoons followed by movement and embodiment experiences.
And the day ended with bon fire evenings with s’mores and shenanigans!
Savouring everything from laughter and heartfelt conversations, to silent personal moments, and even encounters with the deer, rabbits, clouds, pond, and beavers – Spirit was running through it all.
Spirit had already been running through it all before we even arrived.
And I still feel Spirit now, post retreat.
And yet, it was during this Retreat and some of the many personal stories I experienced, as well as within the collective experiences within the group, that I could really sense Spirits Presence.
I felt such a surge of profound trust; trust in the Universe itself.
There were moments, as there always are in any group setting, when I felt a slight tug of concern.
Was I doing enough?
And in those fleeting moments of doubt, a gentle voice within me would whisper,
“Trust the unfolding. Trust the moment. Trust Spirit.”
Each time, without fail, something beautiful would take place.
A participant would offer a word of encouragement to another, a shared silence would deepen a connection, or a sudden burst of insight would illuminate a path forward.
The Universe, in its infinite wisdom, was orchestrating everything beautifully, weaving together individual threads into a tapestry of shared experience.
One of the participants shared this incredible quote that sums it up perfectly:
“This was love: a string of coincidences that gathered significance and became miracles.”
—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’
By the end of the retreat, as we gathered for our closing ceremony, I felt a deep sense of peace.
My heart was full, not just from the beautiful connections forged, but from the profound realization of just how much I truly trust the Universe.
I realized that my role as a teacher isn’t about having all the answers or controlling every outcome.
It’s about creating a nurturing space, offering tools and guidance, and then trusting that each individual, guided by the Universe, will find their own way.
If you ever feel the call to embark on a journey of self-discovery, whether it’s a retreat, a new practice, or simply a leap of faith, remember this:
Trust the flow.
Trust the Universe.
And most importantly, trust yourself, and the beautiful souls who walk alongside you.
The magic truly begins when you open to the unknown, knowing that you are always supported, always Guided, and always exactly where you need to be.
There is never a moment when you are not supported.
It is also the reason why I named my meaningful one-on-one work with people, ‘’A.L.I.G.N.’! The ‘g’ is with a Capital ‘G’ for Guided; divine wisdom lives within you and all around you. Trust it.
With boundless trust and belief in you,
Shawna
Breathe and Believe
P.S. Part Two comes out next week! And it has everything to do with “trusting that each individual, guided by the Universe, will find their own way.”