No Apology Required

“I’m so inspired I want to sell my house and move to Calcutta!” uttered Colleen Saidman Yee abuzz from a weekend co-facilitating the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program with Roshi Joan Halifax.  I spent a week in New York this summer visiting family which gave me the opportunity to practice at Yoga Shanti with Colleen Saidman Yee & Rodney Yee. Throughout the classes, Colleen was gushing with the spillover energy from her time with Halifax and then in turn apologetic for her effusiveness.  I come to teachers to teach me. Having never heard Halifax speak, I embraced the opportunity for Colleen to channel her insights. It was a  two-for-one special; asana with Colleen peppered with Halifax wisdom.

One of the main themes Colleen relayed was that as caregivers we must care for ourselves.Coupled with self-care, we also must be aware of our intention when offering care. To illustrate her point, Colleen shared the following quote:

There are three ways of seeing life:
When we fix, we see life as broken.
When we help, we see life as weak.
When we serve, we see life as whole.
Fixing and helping are work of the ego, service is work of the soul.
–  Rachel Naomi Remen

I thank Colleen for the practice and conveying her teachers’ teachings.