Welcome & Namaste 🙂
Today's topic is very much relevant to the current circumstances that we find ourselves in as a global community of humans.
There are sometimes, often times, circumstances in life that we have absolutely zero control over. This is a hard pill to swallow for many of us.
The rapid spread and unpredictability that we face with the spread of COVID-19 is no exception.
In the 8 limbs of yoga, the roots, the foundation of the 8-limbed (ashtanga) path are the yamas and the niyamas. There are 5 of each. The final niyama being: Ishvara pranidhana
Surrendering (pranidhana) to a higher source (Ishvara)
I'm not going to go into a big long post about this today, but what I will say is this:
Ishvara pranidhana has saved me multiple times in my life when things felt completely wrong and out of my control.
- When my father in law was losing his battle to cancer.
- When I lost my own father 6 months later.
- When I've experienced miscarriage and health challenges of my own.
This ancient concept has been there to support me through my most difficult days.
My hope is that it will be there to support you when you need it most as well.
If you are here on this post today as a part of my 10 day meditation challenge. I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart for joining me.
I hope that you might join me in my next online journey coming up very soon. I've had a flurry of incoming messages and questions about how to practice with me more over this time of necessary social distancing and self isolation so I've made this little video to answer some of those questions now:
I hope that you find today's exploration helpful in your meditation journey. Please let me know in the comments below how this practice made you feel.
I'd love to hear from you in the comments below
Scroll down to join in with your reflection about Ishvara pranidhana in the comments section.
Would you like to join the challenge? Sign Up Below!
Would you like to join my next Online Journey of the Self?
Check out my next Online Community Experience this Spring Equinox.
Share about your experience in the challenge on instagram! #meditatewithally
Thank goodness for meditation and thank you so much Ally! (The ending with your daughter was so great lol..never edit that out lol)
Awe! I’m glad you enjoyed that. I can’t tell you how many times that happened over the challenge lol… Thank you so much for coming on this meditation journey with me 🙂
Ally, I can’t thank you enough for these past 10 days! Difficult times indeed! You help to restore peace and reasoning! Thank you!
Awe, this is so wonderful to hear Donna. Thank you so much for joining me on this challenge. I so appreciate it and the felt sense of connection and community during this time 🙂
Thank you Ally 😊 I’ve really enjoyed meditating with you over the last ten days. I was hoping you would do a surrender meditation as I have always found it so helpful as well. Thank you again for introducing me to yoga and meditation.. it will continue to be a daily part of my life. Namaste 🙏😘♥️
Thank you so much for being here and meditating with me Julie, it’s been so nice for me reconnecting with you 🙂 Sending you so much love! Hope to continue seeing you here in the online community on my website! Xo
Wow! Day 10. It has been a pleasure, know this is not the end for me only the beginning😊
Ishvara Pranidhana was & is the best way for me to end and begin. This challenge has helped me open up and see. This particular meditation was perfectly timed. I am and have done what I can do
🙏 Namaste
Looking forward to our teachings this weekend
Paula 🙂 Thank you for this beautiful reflection. I love how this has opened you up more to the world of meditation. This makes my heart sing! Xo
Wow! Thank you Ally for opening up my mind to meditation. These past 10 days have taught me so much and today’s practice is so fitting for the times we find ourselves in right now. This is not the end for me but the beginning. I realize that this is a life long practice & that it takes time and patience . I loved your visual of lightness to darkness and back again. One more thing , your daughter is adorable, a great end to this meditation. Thank you , thank you , Namaste
Haha 🙂 Yes, Audrey makes an appearance in the videos more than you guys know LOL…. nothing a little editing can’t fix hahahaha… I’m so HAPPY to read this reflection. Thank you so much for joining me on this challenge and I’m so excited for your continued mindfulness journey. Xo
Hi Ally,
Like you, my saving grace has been Ishvara pranidhana. The realization that things don’t just happen to us, but for us. It’s a hard concept to grasp. But – day 10! Wow! Your voice and mediations were all delightful. Thank you for providing this journey. I wander forward with relief, love, and peace. Namaste 🙏 ♥️
Thank you for this beautiful reflection Tara. I so appreciate that you took all this time to meditation with me and it brings me joy to hear how your moving forward 🙂 Love to you!!! Xo
Thank you
So much Ally I looked forward each morning n to your meditations they helped to ground me.
Linda xo
Awe, this is wonderful Linda, please continue to use this website as a resource. There are so many meditations and yoga nidras and yoga classes on here for you. Xo Thank you for joining me in the meditation challenge!! 🙂
Thank ally for the 10 days meditation
I enjoyed them all
You have such a beautiful soothing voice and you Radiate beauty and peace.
Much love
Karen xx
Awe Karen, thank you for this. You are so kind. I’m so happy that you joined me and that you enjoyed it so much. That means so much to me. I hope you continue to use this website as a resource 🙂 Namaste. Xo
Thank you Ally! I really liked this one. I need to go back and catch up on days 7, 8, and 9 but I wanted to do Day 10 on Day 10 and I’m glad I did. The bit at the end with your daughter made me smile! Namaste.
She’s really “helpful” when I’m filming meditations lol… so many outtakes. Hahaha… I should start saving them all up and make a video of just that. I”m so glad you joined the challenge. Thanks for meditating with me 🙂 Namaste
Thank you so much! I’ve learned a lot about meditation through these last 10 days and look forward to your posts. Enjoyed meeting your beautiful daughter!
Hahahaha she’s very “helpful!” while I’m filming… I’m so glad that you felt you learned so much Donna. I’m truly happy to hear this. Thank you for meditating with me and I hope that you continue to use this website as a resource. Xo
Thank you Ally, I loved joining in on these over the past 10 days it was so timely and such a nice retreat. Love you thank you for sharing this with us Xox
Thank you so much for being here with me Susie. It’s really meant a lot and has been so nice to connect with you every day. Love you so much. Xo