A little after 6 a.m. I heard the beep that I expected later in the day—some appliance was letting us know it lost power.

Not much later, a loud pop that sounded like a small explosion happened somewhere not too far away.

These sounds, along with the pitter patter of rain, the creaks of wind rattling the loose boards on our deck, and the frequent emergency vehicle sirens, let us know Hurricane/Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene had arrived overnight.

Usually, I relish a good power outage as an excuse to unplug, do some extra practice, enjoy a book, or declutter. As the day drew on, though, I started getting increasingly anxious, even after the rain stopped.

We still were under 6 flood, tropical storm, and tornado weather warnings and watches, and some parts of the city were under flood emergencies.

My phone battery was getting low from checking the weather for more alerts and trying to find out what was happening in Charlotte and the mountains to our west where the storm was expected to hit particularly hard.

Little did I know just how hard.

We had minimal inconvenience at our house with the power being out only for a day. It was nothing compared to what our neighbors in Western North Carolina are enduring. I can only imagine the stress on their bodies, minds, and nervous systems.

And yet, yoga is happening, even amidst the tragedies, even when people aren’t doing postures.

As my teacher, Jehangir Palkhivala, put it, “Yoga isn’t just a philosophy. Yoga just is.” It’s happening all around us whether we realize it or not.

When you look for the yoga that “just is” in a tragedy, it’s a lot easier to find hope in the heartbreak.

Abundance in Action

I can’t open my email or social feeds without getting misty eyed, and not just because of the videos, pictures, and accounts of jaw dropping destruction.

Everywhere I look and what touches my heart most is the incredible outpouring of generosity I see. Relief drives are happening from my dentist’s office to the baseball field. Small businesses and local organizations from coffee shops to museums are donating proceeds. Large corporations and the NFL are giving too.

When you look in your heart and find that you have enough to share with others in need, you are practicing the yogic principle of Asteya (Abundance).

Acts of Kindness Abound

Whether it’s heroes rescuing people and animals, or a son hiking for miles to check on his parents because that’s the only way he could know they were safe, acts of Ahimsa (Peace, Kindness, Non-Violence) are happening too.

People are coming together to help each other. People are sharing how to help, and there’s no shortage of ways to do so.

It's so heartening and hopeful to see such kindness, especially during a polarized election year and time. My fingers are crossed that seeing and experiencing these acts of kindness touches enough hearts to trigger an overall changing of the tide, however small, towards more kindness.

When you show kindness by helping those in need, you are practicing the yogic principle of Ahimsa (Peace, Kindness, Non-Violence).

Perseverance Gives Strength Gives Perseverance

If there’s anything that the increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters of our time teach us about humans (and about yoga), it’s that people are strong and resilient.

People suffer. People grieve. People find strength. People rebuild. People persevere.

I fully acknowledge the suffering and devastation, and I want equally to honor the perseverance.

Because persevering through tragedy builds strength, and that strength makes you more resilient for the next challenge, and so on.

Not only do you keep going, you inspire others to do so too. Your perseverance has a compounding effect.

In the face of loss, when you make the conscious decision to pick up the pieces, to keep going, to trust that the sun will rise in the morning, and to make the most of a new day, you are practicing Tapas (Perseverance or Zeal for Practice).

Yoga is happening in a myriad of other ways all around us, whether you’re in the midst of a tragedy or just trying to get through your workday, whether you see someone doing postures or not, whether you recognize it as yoga or not.

Avoid getting stuck in doom scrolling the devastation. Yes, be aware, feel, and acknowledge what’s happened. Keep your head out of the sand.

But also start to put your attention on finding and compounding the yoga that “just is.”

When you do, not only will you feel better, but you’ll be more likely to make better decisions about how you can contribute and how you can practice abundance, kindness, and perseverance in your own life, which then improves the world around you.

It really is all connected, and you have the power and choice to make a difference through your yoga practice, on and especially off your mat.

If you feel called to help, please click here for an abundance of ways to do so. If you can’t donate your resources, you can always offer your prayers/mantras/kind thoughts.

This information is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation.