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The Ground Truth

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Warrior III With Intention

Have you ever head the term “The Ground Truth”?

Spies say it when they want to know what really went down, no cover-ups and no interpretations. Apparently in life or death spy situations it’s important to know the ground truth in order to move forward in the mission. In NASA, the ground truth is part of the calibration process where a person on the ground makes a measurement of the same thing the satellite is trying to measure at the same time. The two answers are then compared to help evaluate how well the satellite instrument is performing.

Ground Truth
ground truth

Both definitions relate to yoga in that we aim to be transparent and finely tuned. John Friend explains that “In practicing and teaching Anusara yoga, the intention is to align with the flow of Grace, to awaken to the truth that our essential nature is part of this divine flow, and to lovingly and joyfully serve this flow.” In Grounded, we teach kids how to recognize this Ground Truth about themselves and each other so that knowing they are divine, tapping into their authenticity and serving the world from that sincere place is just a way of life. By the time we are adults, many of us are afraid to own our light, let alone shine it as bright as we can and finding our personal ground truth is hard work.

It’s easier to just not see things about ourselves (did my words crush your spirit?) or the world (genocide didn’t end with the Holocaust) or those we pass on the street (we are connected). Too often we only reveal whatis already protected and only open up to what we’ve prepared to handle. Awareness is only the first step. Upholding the truth takes warrior like courage and dedication.

The ground truth is that we all have tremendous power AND the responsibility to uplift one another with our words, influence politics and create peace through our actions and connect in a soulful way with strangers.

To set intentions for the New Year join us in listing the truths you’re willing to be a warrior for. What do you already know for sure and what ground truths will you seek in 2025? To state the obvious, finding the ground truth begins with being grounded. As the spies would say, this is your mission should you choose to accept it.

Prepare your body and mind for this mission with the Grounded pose, Warrior III with Intention. From Straight Leg Lunge inhale and stretch your arms forward. Stay parallel to the floor with your palms together. Interlace your fingers, extending your pointer fingers for the Intention Mudra. Exhale and lift your back leg as you shift your weight forward, both legs straight and strong. Inhale and hug into your midline, the center of the body where your core truth exists. Exhale and extend from your core in all directions so that your intention is powered by truth. Release back to Straight Leg Lunge. Jump switch and repeat on the other side.

More to Explore

  • A Grounded Guide for Kids: Inspired by the Wisdom of The Little Prince

    little_princeGrown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: “What does his voice sound like?” “What games does he like best?” “Does he collect butterflies?” They ask: “How old is he?” “How many brothers does he have?” “How much does he weigh?” “How much does his father make?” Only then do they think they know him. If you tell grown-ups, “I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof…” They won’t be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them “I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs.” Then they exclaim, “What a pretty house!”…That’s the way they are. You must not hold it against them. Children should be very understanding of grown-ups.

    — The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    So Children, how do you master the art of Grown-up relationships one conversation at a time?

  • Inner Flexibility

    BB40 big“How do you become flexible on the Inside?”

    That is the question that I was asked by 4th grade student Isabelle at Yoga Club last week. We were working on acknowledging what we could use more of: strength, balance, or flexibility. After meditating to find what we had the least of, Isabelle raised her hand and asked this question. I stumbled for words, trying to be eloquent and honest on the spot. I spoke of the importance of strength and balance in finding inner flexibility… but honestly this answer felt like it came up short. I found myself reflecting on this question for the rest of the day (the class was over at 3:30pm). I consulted some dear friends and got many good suggestions such as taking a walk, for no other reason than to walk.

    But here is what I came up with, that resonates as the voice of my own truth.

    Being flexible on the inside is a lifelong process. There is a big difference between being loosey goosey with no boundaries, and being open to change and to testing new waters. These two polarities give us a framework for the spectrum of possibility. At the beginning, at the core, and at the point of willingness, is a strong inner truth. This truth is clear, it reminds me who I am, what is most important to me. For some this is a relationship with family or friends. For others their connection to their higher power is the most precious thing in their lives. Maybe for you it’s a sport, or a mission, or catfishing. I check in, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly, with my Truth. Each time I face a new challenge I ask myself “Does this bring me closer or farther away from _________________.”