Jessica McQuistin
Setting Intentions for Self-Care: Journalling, Poetry & Yoga
Updated: Nov 17, 2021

Today's post is a bit of poetry inspired by a recent outdoor yoga class at The Branches (formerly Queen Street Yoga). As I settled in before class, I jotted down a list of the things I felt disconnected from and yearned to experience. The rest grew from there.
Body
Breath
Healing
Rest
Meditation
Sweat
Laughter
These are the jewels I leave behind
When blindly chasing pursuits of the mind
Let me loosen my focus
So that I may see clearly
Let me put down my pen
And lift my Self up
Body and soul
Reaching toward the sky
Rooting into Earth
Exerting great effort
On purpose
With pleasure
Let me play like a child
And rest like a babe
Unconcerned about practical, worldly things
Let me lose my mind for a moment
So that I may gather the jewels
Much too precious to leave behind
Body
Breath
Healing
Rest
Meditation
Sweat
And laughter
With the steadiness of tree trunks
And the lightness of the breeze through birch tree leaves
I walk on in dappled sunlight
Reunited
Do you get swept up in thought and lose awareness of your body? What parts of yourself do you occasionally drop or disconnect from, whether intentionally or unintentionally? Just noticing is a great starting point for reconnection and reintegration. And yoga (in my humble opinion) is an amazing vehicle for mind-body-spirit alignment as well as community connection.