Dear One,

Next time you have a moment of presence, notice the small ways you're learning, healing, and growing.

Notice the moments you *don't* get triggered, when maybe a year ago you would have.

Notice the moments you *do* get angry when maybe a year ago you would have been frozen.

Notice the moments you sense your NO when maybe a year ago you would have felt confusion.

Notice the moments you have access to your voice when maybe a year ago you would have been trapped in seething silence.

Notice the absence of overthinking when maybe a year ago that kind of brain activity felt standard for you.

Notice the moments that go quietly undetected. The moments when you have more capacity, more self-trust, and more wisdom than before.

This isn't toxic positivity. It's just that our brains are wired for negativity bias, because that's evolutionarily deemed more practical/safer for our survival (you might want to add Buddha's Brain to your reading list!). And sometimes we need reminders to turn our attention to the progress.

So among the nervous system-level, life-level, and world-level chaos, pain, and suffering, notice the moments that move us in the direction of personal, intergenerational, and communal healing and wellbeing.

Below are many ways to slow down and inventory deeply for the New Year, to step forward in deep coordination with your inner compass. And these are events that often come with a deep sense of community and connection with others, even while moving in the privacy of your own mat. I hope you'll join me.

New Year's Awakening workshop is Sunday 12/31 at 4-5:30pm! This will be my 9th year offering this deep inventory and intention setting for your body, energy, mind, emotions, and higher self. Join me for this beautiful ritual -- whether live at JPCY or virtually. Bring your journal for this one.

Radical Resilience: Winter Self-Care Series is now HYBRID, meaning in-person or virtual, every Thursday in January from 5:45-7pm, or anytime via recording (available for 7 days)! We will blend postures with yoga philosophy and therapeutic practices for self-care and psychological wellbeing.

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training immersion with Alex & Brenna Matthews is January 12-15, 2024! This is a 25hr long weekend professional training will plenty to receive in your personal practice and nervous system along the way.

Befriending Stillness: Radically Restorative Yoga Workshop is coming up Saturday, January 13th from 6:30-8pm. Please make sure you pre-register ... we've been selling out!

Here we go 2024. May you go gentle on us.

~Alex

PS: If you do the Instagram thing, let's connect at @alexbauermeisteryogatherapy. And for some music to help you ride the waves of this time, check out my public playlists on Spotify under abauermeister. And ... I always love hearing how these newsletters land with you. Send me a note if you're so inspired!