Many of my teachers and friends have chosen unconventional career paths.
These individuals were curious, adventurous, not afraid to step into the unknown, and, if they were, they did it anyway. This takes not only courage but faith!
Recently, I heard from Liza Dousson, from whom I took yin yoga classes for a few years. She bases her movements on Chinese Medical theories and switches her practice up seasonally to support the dominant organ systems. For example, in spring it is the liver (wood) that works hard. In summer (fire), the heart, fall the lungs (metal), late fall the spleen (earth), and winter the kidneys (water).
Liza was successful in the corporate world. Upon reflection, she decided to create a life more meaningful than what her profession could offer.
Liza was drawn to yoga and traveled to India and Southeast Asia for seven years of cultural immersion, study and, as she calls it, “the art of slowing down”.
According to a WSJ article last Sunday, “ever more Americans are searching for work with meaning, putting personal fulfillment over traditional priorities like income and status”.
Life is short. Sometimes we are called to take that twist or turn and have the faith to move into something we can’t quite see yet.
Acting when we can’t predict the outcome but just ‘know’ it seems right takes courage. Sometimes we need to stay in a job or situation because it supports our and other’s needs, however, we can still plan, making choices that lead us toward our dreams.
I used to leave Liza’s classes feeling more open to new ideas, less stressed, more at peace with the person I am, and glad that I had studied Chinese Medicine. From Portugal, where Liza is exploring now, she continues to teach, practice, and delve deeper into living life with meaning and joy. She is offering a live stream class using her unique teaching style.
If you have a passion you might be ignoring, take specific action, even little steps, to discover what new road might lie ahead.
And if you would like to experience Liza’s unique way of teaching yin yoga, I suggest tuning in on June 25 as we enter summer, the season of the heart!
