This concept of “a beginner’s mindset” keeps popping up for me lately and it rings so true for where I am at currently. Allowing myself to go back to basics and start again like a beginner, in all my practices, has been most humbling… on my yoga mat, in my studio, in my home and in my life. It has required a lot of patience and kindness with myself. I am painfully aware at how much time I lost the past 18 months as I have gone through my own rock bottom moments. After lots of personal challenges whilst packing up my life in South Africa, I suffered my worst burnout to date.

In Tai Chi - Swimming Dragon there is a pose we do, called “the Golden Cicada shed’s it skin”. It aptly became a metaphor for my life, with a kind of allowing, I shed every aspect of my life, as I knew it.

As some of you may know, I relocated to Europe last October. I arrived here after my teaching trip to Ireland. The last 6 months have been about finding my feet, unpacking the few things I brought over with me and setting up a new home and studio. Maybe we don’t really think about it much, but I believe it takes a lifetime to establish a beautiful home and life that you feel deeply connected to. Finding unique pieces and elements that are special to you, that fill little spaces and time that make it uniquely your own and yours as a family.

To find myself back at the beginning, I have had to lean into that beginner’s mindset and see what unfolds. I am starting to find little elements and fill these spaces as I connect to my new environment and new life and maybe even a new sense of self. It will take time. I can’t wait for my new home to settle in on itself as things find their place. I have been in a gentle nesting season, shifting and finding flow and new rhythms, with gratitude for the small things, at the core of it all.

Over the past 18 months, I lost my sacred flow state in both my creativity and studio. During that time, I dabbled here and there, starting many things but finishing far fewer. I am happy to say, I’m finally back in my space with consistent days in the seat and in my new studio. I need to get back to play as this is a big part of my practice. Again, I have had to lean into my beginner’s mindset to come back to my full-time practice. I’m playing again with concepts and ideas like I’m new to art and allowing things to unfold intuitively. I will share more soon as I have a new little series underway and of course I’ll be finishing pieces that I started last year.

I have and use a lot of modalities to help me regulate my nervous system but I think painting still remains my most restorative. Being able to create back to back days again has been most healing for me and to have this beautiful regulation back up and running again is such a gift to me.

My new yoga regime is also underway, phew, it took me time to find a system that would work for me. It has not been without it’s challenges. I lost a lot of strength and fitness in the move but I have been rebuilding and it’s beautiful. Being strong in my body at this age means everything to me. I am walking and hiking a lot too. I have joined a few hiking groups here and have some big hikes planned for later this year… all positive steps forward.

“One day at a time”

So I leave you with this thought that has been swirling around my mind the past while, if I continue with a beginner’s mindset every time I arrive on my mat or in my studio, never to run too far ahead of myself but to stay humble and in a forever growth mindset, that there is so much to learn in these quiet lowly places, if I allow myself.

From my heart to yours, always, Jeanne-Marie

xxx