Anyone who knows Cynthia Bates, knows her number one passion is to delve into her spiritual life. This takes form in asana, pranayama, meditation and teaching yoga. She embraces her regular home practice and looks within for guidance. She strives to know herself on all levels and be of service in an authentic way.
We all know that change is inevitable. We’re taught in the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to do our dharma without attachment to places, things, people and our thoughts. Cynthia is not fearful of moving to Hawaii but is relaxed and accepting about it and even sees it as a gift.
A few years ago, Cynthia was aware of a significant shift in her life and that she’d be moving away from the Bay Area. During a Vedic astrology reading, Hawaii was offered as one of the places she would be happy living. Cynthia is looking for a slower pace, where she can take care of herself. This includes lessening her migraine headaches and spending more time in practice and less time commuting.
Although she will miss all that she has established for herself here in the Bay Area, Cynthia is looking forward to making new friends, practicing with new yoga teachers, and teaching at yoga centers on the Big Island, Maui, and maybe other islands. She feels strongly that she is following her intuition and being guided and welcomed by locals, other Hawaii transplants, and the spirit of Aloha.
Fears and anxiety aren’t unfamiliar to us and, in fact, they rarely change form. The fears and anxiety that Cynthia has today, finances and taxes, will be the same wherever she lives. It’s how we quiet our thoughts and perceptions and work with them that enable big changes and transformation to occur.
Cynthia doesn’t know exactly where she’ll be working or living and, although this may bring up anxiety, questions and exhilaration, she has no doubt that this will open up her life and expand her world in a free and honest way. One thing for sure, Cynthia is looking forward to spreading out in nature and acquiring a cat, dog and perhaps even a pig.
Grateful for all of her learning, skills, experience, friendships and students while living and working in San Francisco and Berkeley she is well equipped to listen to and follow her heart and where it leads. Fortunately, she will be back as a guest teacher at Adeline Yoga.
One signpost of our growth is our ability to let go of the fruits of our actions and Cynthia’s ability to let go of her apartment and classes in the Bay Area and venture to Hawaii to start anew is truly inspiring. We will miss her and wish her well on her journey. Aloha Cynthia!
Stay connected to Cynthia through her website: http://www.cynthiabatesyoga.net
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leah Flaks is an instructor at Adeline and the studio manager. She has been practicing Iyengar yoga since using it to recover from a serious dance injury at age 19. Be sure to ask her about meeting B.K.S. Iyengar in Berkeley’s Tilden Park in the 1980s. Leah is Adeline Yoga’s studio manager and instrumental in the creation of our vibrant community.