I LOVE Mister Rogers. I grew up watching his television show on PBS and it was always a point of pride that he was from and filmed his show in my hometown of Pittsburgh. It felt like the neighborhood he spoke about really was OUR neighborhood. How amazing that his messages and work are being brought to life again in a new film. Learning more about him now, his messages and life’s work make me only more appreciative and impressed with the person he is.
Mister Rogers demonstrated that impact and legacy can be created powerfully through kindness and a soft voice. His reassuring tone and eye contact was not an accident. He tried to see right through the lens and into the eyes of every child who watched him. He spoke in language that was simple, truthful and never shied away from difficult emotions or realities. He held space for all of it. Similarly, that is one of the reasons I appreciate yoga practice and PYB. Come as you are to your mat and the practice allows for all of it. Joy, breakthroughs, silence and sadness.
As we move into the holiday season, his message could not be more timely. Beyond the typical surface level gratitude and kindness, he acknowledged that love and acceptance can be hard. ‘Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.’ If that’s not the greatest message of yoga then I can’t imagine what else is. Yoga means union and we are all connected to live and work together. How about if we all try that practice off the mat at the next family holiday event?
Mister Rogers spoke directly to the hearts of children and I think as adults we still have that small child inside us who needs to hear the words ‘There’s no person in the whole world like you and I like you just the way you are.’
Happy Thanksgiving and wishing our community a beautiful holiday season from Power Yoga Buffalo.
Namaste.
