Unwrap the Gift of Compassion

Hello!!

How are you doing today?

Before we get into today's letter, let's take a moment to connect with the breath.

I invite you to take a slow, nourishing breath in through your nose, and then gently release your breath through your nose or mouth.

As you breathe in, notice the sensation of air as it enters your nostrils, and then feel the temperature of your breath on a soft, slow exhale.

This time as you breathe in, follow the flow of your breath, noticing where you feel your breath moving within you. Take a moment to observe the gentle release of your breath with each exhale.

Feel free to continue this mindful breathing for a few more rounds if it feels soothing and calming to you.

Conscious breathing is a compassionate gift we can offer ourselves at any moment of the day. It’s a gift that nourishes both the mind and body, sending messages of safety and calm to the nervous system.

Your breath is a loving friend–it’s always with you, offering support and nourishment, along with a sense of calm and grounding. It encourages a gentle release of emotion and serves as an anchor, connecting you to the present moment.

Mindful breathing is always available to you, serving as a gentle practice that you can turn to whenever it feels good.

And speaking of compassionate gifts, I have another one for you!

I invite you to unwrap the gift of compassion by joining me on a 7-day somatic yoga journey to self-compassion, beginning January 1, 2025.

Compassion is a quality that already exists within each of us.

That being said, it can be challenging to access or connect with compassion for a number of reasons.

It can even be difficult to describe what self-compassion feels like and looks like.

For most of my life, I was completely disconnected from compassion.

I was so focused on doing, achieving, surpassing expectations, and chasing perfection that I lost touch with parts of myself–the parts that were urging me to slow down, breathe, feel my emotions, speak to myself with respect and kindness, and rest.

To me, self-care seemed unproductive and unnecessary. I believed it was a waste of time.

But here’s the thing I didn’t realize at the time: I had a threshold. We all do. For years, I ignored and overlooked the importance of compassion and didn’t take care of my inner world, which eventually led to burnout. As the stressors stacked, my body eventually reached its limit, signaling “Enough” through chronic symptoms.

Even with the chronic symptoms, I continued to push myself beyond my limits because that's all I knew. For years, I resisted what my body was telling me, until I finally reached a point where I couldn’t ignore its messages any longer. I knew I needed to surrender, stop, and listen.

Fortunately, along my journey, I discovered resources that helped me understand compassion–what it is, why it’s essential, and how to connect with it.

Here are some of the ways I nurture compassion in my life.

I connect with compassion when I tend to my physical needs–things like staying hydrated throughout the day, eating when I feel hungry, and resting when I feel tired. This practice encourages me to listen to my body and honor its sensations. Tending to and respecting one’s biological needs is a beautiful way to nurture self-compassion.

I nurture self-compassion when I give myself the time and space to feel my emotions, allowing them to simply be without passing judgment. This practice has helped me move away from over-analyzing why the emotion is present, and instead, focus on simply feeling it–letting it flow and move through me.

I connect with compassion through engaging in self-care activities that feel nourishing to me, like gardening, reading, movement practices, singing, going for walks, listening to educational podcasts, journaling, meditation, breathwork, and so much more.

I access compassion through expressing kind and loving words to myself through affirmations, gratitude practices, and celebrating my wins.

Curiosity deepens my connection with compassion. Instead of judging what I feel in my body, I now view it as a chance to better understand myself, and I see it as an opportunity to offer compassion to the sensations I experience.

This self-compassion journey has brought me closer to myself, helping me reconnect with the parts that I ignored or pushed away for years. It has also encouraged me to extend kindness and compassion to the younger versions of myself who were simply doing their best to navigate life.

Along the way, I’ve learned how to treat myself with the same love, care, respect, and kindness that I would extend to a dear friend.

While old patterns and setbacks surface from time to time, I now know that compassion is always available to me. When I find myself slipping back into those familiar patterns, I trust that my body will remind me–through its sensations–to pause, breathe, take stock, and offer myself love and compassion. Whether it’s through self-care, kind words, rest, or simply honoring what feels nourishing, I know I have the tools to return to a place of compassion.

Compassion is at the heart of this 7-day somatic yoga journey. This program is inspired by my own journey to self-compassion, and it's a gift I would love to share with you.

It's a gift that reminds you that you are worthy of compassion, love, care, and rest.

Each practice is centered around a theme connected to self-compassion. You’ll have the space to explore each theme as you move through the program.

We begin our journey January 1, 2025 with a warm welcome video and a compassionate breathwork practice. This will mark day 0 of our journey.

Day 1 of our program begins on January 2, 2025, with the final day of our journey on January 8, 2025.

Practices will be available at 6AM EST.

I encourage you to move through this program at a pace that feels right for you. This might mean revisiting certain practices that resonate with you, taking breaks whenever you feel called to do so, or starting this journey later on in the year. This journey invites you to listen to your body, honor its sensations, and follow what feels nourishing for you. There are no goals, expectations, or anything to master in this program–only an invitation to meet yourself where you are, explore your inner world, and an opportunity to connect or reconnect with compassion.

Click the image or the button below to watch a short introductory video about our 7-day journey to self-compassion.

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Well dear friend, this is the final letter of 2024!

To close, I would like to express how grateful I am for you. I’m so thankful for this loving, supportive community. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for choosing to share your practice with me and for allowing me to be a part of your journey.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Wishing you a season filled with joy, love, warmth, hope, and laughter!

With love,

~ Rachel