The Thaw Is Already Underway | Tending Spirit & Supporting Presence
"You don’t need some big life purpose. Just focus on keeping your heart open. Everything you are looking for comes downstream from an open heart."
— Cory Muscara
Hello Tuesday, Hello friends 💛
Heart Awareness month carries us forward. Off a hallmark holiday into the week we can revisit these guiding questions:
✨ How is your spirit right now? ✨ What is supporting your presence these days?
From my head and heart today, a slightly longer read with offerings and invitation. Take this time for a short pause.
Welcome in a more intentional breath in through your nose- pause and sip at the top- and sigh it out the mouth. A few times as you arrive.
Bring a hand to your heart – Rumi’s invitation for you to make a regular visit to this space.
Extend simple presence as your body breaths you, your nervous system sharing and landing here.
This week's soundscape Om- Sonic Savasana from Daphne Tse from the Coming Home Playlist is a favorite homecoming. If you want to visit the Solar Frequency from last week for a more radiant warming track, its here for you.
You might close your eyes and take in 10 steady rounds of breath.
As inhale transitions to exhale, allowing these moments to be enough.
We begin again.
This month continues to bring a dance of energies with natures quiet wintering threshold.
Across the world there are celebrations of light, renewal, reverence for Year of the Horse, Ramadan, Mardi Gras and the like, amongst unrest and advocacy in social and political spheres, meeting life’s commitments and surprises as we find ourselves in late winter’s tender work. In Ayurveda, kapha season begins to emerge — earth and water, steadiness and weight, moisture and potential. Transitioning from the dryer winds of winter, we revisit the questions as guiding lights with Ayurvedic wisdom for the season.
How do we ground our nervous systems without dulling our flame?
How do we support steadiness without slipping into stagnation?
Lately I’ve been reflecting on the yogic teachings of the kleshas — particularly rāga (clinging) and dveṣa (aversion).
That subtle oscillation between reaching for what feels good… and pushing away what feels uncomfortable.
Even in a my work devoted to practice and service, I notice how quickly the old coping patterns resurface — especially when my own high standards, restless heart or secret hopes for transformation (mine or someone else’s) creep in.
Again and again, I am humbled back to the heart of the yoga path:
Clear the space.
Return to presence.
Listen. Meet yourself.
Love yourself more.
The tools are here. We each meet our own unfolding in real time — grounded, enlivened, curious — as life brings what it brings.
And sometimes… we can do all the “right” things — rest well, move the body, nourish through food and connection, show up with care — and still feel restless or a apathetic.
Michelle Clark’s words have been sitting gently beside me:
Grief is proof of love.
Anger is proof of care.
Fatigue is proof of effort.
You are not broken. You are alive.
To whatever you may be carrying — your current experience is evidence of a life fully lived to this point.
We are not broken.
We are responsive, feeling beings.
What I keep landing on — again and again — is presence.
Right now, supporting presence in my own life has looked like:
• full nights of rest when possible
• walks & play with Koba
• music for dance & singing that helps me not take myself so seriously
• small novelty in ordinary moments
• sending a card or message to a friend that’s on my heart & mind.
Choosing love, non-harm, presence over performance- while enlivening our spirit without shame.
Bring in caring attention.
In how we speak to ourselves when we fall short.
In how we soften instead of harden.
And when the inner critic, or truly most emotions become too loud — I return to Matt Kahn’s gentle reminder:
You deserve more love, not less.
Late winter is stirring- Water flows, branches move, birds are sharing their songs. The thaw is already underway — within and around us.
This week’s invitation:
🌿 Where might you introduce more steady movement? Bring novelty to refresh your view or offer your heart need a little more kindness?
No rushing. Maintenance magic asks for tending.
Practices a plenty this season- join m. Whether for Wellness Wednesday free online Community Circle (Ujjayi & Yoga for the Eyes) or at Heart Spring for Slow Flow or Ground & Release.
Humberside Loft gathers again Saturday morning at 9:00am — for a special small-group rhythm.
Friday Flow is taking a pause this week as I support a peer at Providence St. Vincent (9am & 10am). Members Library is updated and the 45-minute public Friday Flow freebie remains available through February.
These spaces are here for your nervous system, your vitality, and your heart — and as always, a reminder that we don’t have to do this alone.
May our stressors loosen and our hearts stay open,
May we attune to presence and tend to our spirits.
May we carry forward steady warmth and radiant hearts.
In presence & care, with love & light,
Maya
Weekly Offerings
🌿 Heart Spring Health — Sellwood
Heart Spring is offering 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $25.
Mon 6:30am — Root & Rise
Tues 10:00am — Embodied Yoga- A Yoga Therapy inspired Class
A small-group class to support regulation, awareness, and personalized healing. An entry point for those curious about yoga therapy.
Wed 4:45pm — Slow Flow
Wed 6:15pm — Ground & Release
🌿 Humberside Loft — SW Portland
Sat 9:00am — Root & Rise - Space open this week!
(Intimate loft — tea and connection to follow)
🌿 Online
Wed 11:00am — Community Circle (Free)
Fri 8:00am — Friday Flow (Pay What You Can) - next live 2/27
🌿 Free Accessible Classes — Providence St. Vincent
Beginner-friendly, in-person, and welcoming
Mon 9:00am & 10:00am
(Subbing Friday Feb 20 — 9am & 10am)
Visit @Basecamp for full schedule
➡ Calendar & Booking: www.mayalakeyoga.com/classes
➡ Practice: @MayaLakeYoga Youtube
➡ Listen: Maya Lake Yoga- Coming Home Playlist.
