Welcoming Shiva
By Elizabeth Scollan
I received a message about a month ago from Jessica Knott- a fellow yoga teacher and veteran of a community most of the teachers at Soulage (including myself) hail from. She explained that upon the closing of our beloved yoga home, she had received the honor of giving a new home to the Shiva statue which had remained on the altar of the “Fire studio” for many many years.
She and her partner Devon had been careful and reverent guardians of the statue but they had a sense that its size and the power of its presence needed to reach a wider audience. They wanted to know if the torch could be passed to Soulage. For our burgeoning studio it was a resounding “YES!” We felt so incredibly privileged to be hosting this sculpture that represented ties to our roots.
I won’t pretend to be an expert on the gods of Hindu culture but I do know that Shiva, who represents the sacred masculine is known as the god of destruction- a title that if misunderstood might inspire fear rather than curiosity.
Yet Shiva's destruction comes in the form of blasting through the impressions and mind chatter that keep us tied to the past or yearning for the future. The act of destruction is, in truth, an act of love from he who is pure consciousness- capable of dancing in pure, unfettered, ecstatic joy or settling into utter and awe-inspiring stillness.
The landscape of practicing has shifted greatly in Baltimore since our Charm City Yoga days. I think for many of us there is still a sense of loss- that a community we all found our place in, is just… gone. It had been a haven for learning, connection, and most importantly real life practice. Yet we can hold the sensation of that grief in our hearts and still be present to the beautiful ways in which that loss has led to an unfolding in the current moment. The teachers at Soulage have intentionally been forging a way forward based on principles that we believe speak to the changes our world is experiencing and continues to need to manifest.
We believe:
Teachers are conduits rather than gatekeepers of knowledge.
Curiosity is the magic that sparks deep transformation.
Cueing is a tool towards deeper attention rather than the “right” way to do something.
We offer tools and techniques that inspire us, but what works for each individual is their journey to discover.
The aim of all of these movement and meditative practices is to uncover our connection to presence and thus, joy.
Our ethos; our way of doing things will continue to evolve as will each of our teachers and each of our students. With the Shiva statue present as a reminder, we will allow the destruction of “what was” to give way to “what is” over and over again. In the meantime, whether you are just moving to Baltimore, just stepping on a yoga mat for the first time or are a veteran of this practice and yoga in this town, we invite you to come visit Shiva and make space for the destruction and renewal in your own experience