There are moments in life when a book doesn’t just inspire you — it shifts something in you.
Reading Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone was one of those moments for me.
This isn’t just a book about staying positive. It’s about
reclaiming your power in a world that feels overwhelming, uncertain, and, at times, heartbreaking. And as a yoga teacher, a cancer survivor, and a woman in midlife navigating her own evolution… I felt every word.
✨ So What Is Active Hope?
Active Hope is the practice of
choosing hope — not because things are perfect, but because we’re willing to engage with life from a place of courage, creativity, and compassion.
It’s not passive. It’s not blind optimism. It’s not pretending everything is fine.
It’s about showing up anyway.
“Active Hope is not wishful thinking. Active Hope is waking up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act.” – Joanna Macy
💛 What I Took Away (And Why It Matters on the Mat)
1.
Hope Isn’t a Feeling — It’s a Practice
Just like yoga, hope is something you do.
It’s in the breath you take before responding instead of reacting.
It’s in the way you roll out your mat even on the hard days.
It’s in the way you keep choosing compassion — for yourself and others — even when the world feels heavy.
When I teach now, I don’t just offer movement. I offer space for remembering your agency. For choosing how you want to show up — one breath, one pose, one moment at a time.
2.
Your Grief is Welcome Here
One of the most powerful messages in Active Hope is that
grief and hope can coexist.
In yoga, we often talk about “releasing what no longer serves you.” But sometimes, that release includes sorrow, fear, or a deep longing for the world to be different. That’s not something to hide — it’s something to honor.
Whether you're moving through the loss of who you used to be, the heaviness of the headlines, or just the ache of growing older — your mat can hold it all.
3.
Community is How We Heal
Hope doesn't live in isolation. It lives in connection.
This is why I created the
Yoga Book Club. Not just to read beautiful books, but to remind us that we’re not alone in this wild, wonderful, messy journey.
When we move together, breathe together, and share space (even silently), we remind each other:
✨ You’re not too late.
✨ You’re not broken.
✨ You’re not alone.
🧘♀️ How It Shapes My Teaching Now
Since reading Active Hope, I’ve noticed subtle shifts in my own practice and the way I hold space for others:
- I start class with a check-in, not a rush to the next pose
- I build in more time for reflection and rest
- I lead with compassion, not correction
- I hold space for
real emotions to show up — and to move through
Because real yoga isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
It’s not about the pose — it’s about who you become through the pose.
🌕 You’re Invited: Yoga Book Club — Active Hope Edition
If this message speaks to you, I’d love for you to join me for a special session of our
Yoga Book Club, where we’ll explore Active Hope through gentle movement, meaningful reflection, and real conversation.
📚
Sunday, July 20 @ 11:30 AM
📍 Babylon Barre Studio, Lindenhurst
🧘♀️ No need to finish the book — or even start it! All are welcome.
👉
Click here to RSVP
💫 Final Thoughts
If you’ve been feeling disconnected, uncertain, or stuck — you’re not alone. But you are powerful. You are capable. And you can take aligned action from a place of grace and clarity.
Hope isn’t a feeling we wait for.
It’s a practice we choose — again and again.
And I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
