“You can be very wild and still be very wise.”
— Yoko Ono
After my IG conversation with Nina about femininity, people pleasing and the question of whether a female yoga teacher always has to be “nice,” I received so many messages from you. Many of you also joined the discussion on Instagram. It showed me just how deeply this topic resonates with us and how important it is to talk about it:
What does femininity actually mean to us today?
Perhaps at some point, you learned to make certain parts of yourself smaller. Your anger, your clarity, your ambition, your sensuality and your loudness. Your no. Because as women, we often learn very early what is considered “feminine”: being gentle, considerate, understanding and keeping the peace are usually at the top of the list.
But what happens to all the other parts of us?
I believe femininity becomes interesting when we stop reducing it to one particular idea of what it should look like.
We can be soft and powerful. Compassionate and clear. Receptive and determined. Quiet, wise and wild. All of these can exist within us at the same time.
Femininity has many faces. And that is exactly why I would like to explore this topic a little further with you over the coming weeks.
This newsletter is the beginning of a short three-part series about feminine power.
We will explore why the Goddess is not always gentle and nice, and which feminine forces in your life might be asking for more space right now.
I will also take you into the world of Shakti: the feminine, creative force that takes countless forms in yoga. We encounter her especially deeply during Navarātri – the nine nights of the Goddess.
From October 11–19, I will once again be teaching my signature program, Navarātri Sādhana, live online: nine evenings of meditation, mantra and reflection.
Last time, 92 women joined us, and I still get goosebumps when I think back to how magical that experience was.
This year, I am also adding my Goddess Practices combining asana, mudra, meditation and mantra. More about that soon. ✨
For today, I would like to leave you with one question:
Which part of your femininity is asking for more space right now?
Big love ♥️
Yours,
Gabriela
P.S. If you are already curious about the Navarātri Sādhana: From October 11–19, we will practise together live online every evening.
