By Paige Faure

“We are the silver lining in any and every dark cloud we could ever find. There is no need to go looking for the light when you bring it with you." ~ Tyler Knott Gregson

I recently moved to a new home - it was a must, otherwise I would not have chosen to do so during a pandemic, as it was arduous to say the least. But despite the obstacles this change presented, my new place is starting to feel like a peaceful respite, filled with possibilities. Though the day of the move was tedious and presented many questions, the near-instant infusing of the space with my signature weirdness made my heart settle - an R2D2 French press coffee maker prominently displayed atop my fridge reminded me of who I am, amongst all the new: a bit of a nerd who is always ready to ignite my days with warm liquid ambition and create. As you’ve probably experienced yourself, moving is not just the material, but the immaterial - the memories, the special nooks, the routines. I arrived here in November and I still haven’t found exactly where I want all my dishes to go, or how to organize my son’s closet, or exactly how my radiator works. But I have found where my books go, where I meditate, where I lay out board games with my little boy, and where I imagine, post-COVID, gathering my friends for snacks and laughs. Where the light is - not just physical lighting for the myriad of zoom yoga classes I teach so my complexion looks best, but where I can enjoy the buoyancy and lightness of being present in my space.

Home should never feel like a heavy burden. While it is often called your roots, it doesn’t mean you are stuck, never to change, never to explore. It is accessible anywhere. Home, for me, is waking up to see every sunrise with a cup of coffee, just like my grandmother used to do on her farm in Kentucky. It’s in the original Star Wars trilogy. (This is a yearly homecoming.) It’s in melted cheese of any kind (an almost daily homecoming), the game of Uno, decorative throw pillows, and in the warm, longer days of sunshine leading us into spring. My dear friend, Minami, says: “Don’t hesitate to celebrate the small victories” - that goes for moments of home too! That extra exhale as you climb into your warm bed, your cat or dog looking up to you with unadulterated adoration, or the smile you feel naturally curve up as you answer a phone call from a special friend - those are all mini-celebrations of your life arriving to you.

Most yogis would say that even the unfurling of your mat is home - and I’d agree, movement being an essential part of my business and an essential part of all of our natures. Whenever you feel a bit untethered, I’d encourage you to find someplace quiet-ish with a mat, rug, or your favorite towel to lie down, and if all you do is sit upon it and breath and daydream for a bit, let that be the start of coming home to yourself. If downward dogs and all the warriors become a part of that practice, so be it, but don’t be afraid for it to be almost too simple. To gently close your eyes and allow the light of the home within you to shine for a moment or two of peace each day, to remind you to be grateful for the the tangible things you have (for my 7am classes, that R2D2 French press comes to mind…) and to connect you to the intangible force within, that says, no matter where you are, “you’re already here.”

Don’t hesitate to celebrate the small victories - that goes for moments of home too!