Blessed to live a mere 20 minutes from the beach, I try to make my way there whenever my heart and soul are full of heaviness. Being human has felt a bit extra lately, so I found myself at the water’s edge the other day, open to whatever type of magic elixir the waves might churn up.
Initially, all I could see was an overcast sky blending into the horizon, reflecting my blue mood. Yet, as I started walking through the powdery sand toward the shoreline, I was fully awash in a cool, briny breeze; and maybe it was the negative ions, but those first few breaths nudged the needle a tick. I felt my focus change from ruminating on the world’s woes, to what was immediately in front of me.
Stepping into the brisk Pacific water, my woefully scattered mind was jolted into pause mode, and my attention was drawn back into my body—my feet specifically. As my toes slowly adapted to the chill, my system became transfixed by the rhythm of waves and splashing feet; each step rooted me more firmly into the relative solidness of the sand and water-covered earth beneath it.
This sudden state of dharana, mixed with the breeze and gentle swells, centered a deep, soothing in my heart. Instead of feeling completely overwhelmed as I had earlier, I shifted into a more harmonious state of being. Did the world change? Nope, still chaotic. Did I change? Again no, not really. However, being in a place that offers me joy and solace helped peel away some sticky layers of angst, bringing me more clarity.
Continuing my meander along the water’s edge, a little toy “Tow Mater” truck (from Cars) caught my eye. It was bogged down in the sand as if it had stalled out trying to escape the incoming waves. Interestingly, this was the exact stretch of beach where, a few years ago, I found a lovely long-stemmed yellow rose randomly stuck in the wet sand. This day, I thought it was such a weird coincidence to find two different objects, on two different days, wedged in the sand, surrounded by seaweed and beach detritus. In each case, the objects struck me as being depressingly out of place.
Yet in both instances, the longer I paused and took in the objects’ juxtaposition to the sea I realized that neither the whimsy of the toy, nor the beauty of the rose were diminished by the debris they were caught up in. I experienced a form of pratipaksha bhavana, where I shifted from seeing and thinking the scenes were ugly and sad, and instead noticed the inherent sweetness and loveliness of each item. Kind of like living as a human.
While it may not always feel, or even be ideal, we have the tools to live mindfully within the havoc and confusion the world has to offer us. Pausing, we see that confusion and peace sometimes run hand in hand, as do uncertainty and beauty.
Walking along the ocean’s path, I was able—with Nature’s help—to remedy my heartsickness. I was offered a glimpse of charm and delight, and I chose to see it. The shift was the medicine I was hoping to find.
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Lanita Varshell and Diane Ambrosini invite you to join us as we reconnect with the most vital and transformative force in the universe: love. When we move through the world with deep love everything shifts, and we start living from a freer heart space, releasing judgments and prejudices, so we can build thriving communities, June 13 – 20, 2026, “It’s ALL About Love: A Deep Journey Into Embracing Love.”
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ABOUT DIANE AMBROSINI:
Diane Ambrosini, MA, is the author of the highly acclaimed Instructing Hatha Yoga: A Guide for Teachers and Students. An anatomy geek, Diane earned a Masters Degree in Exercise Science, with an emphasis on Kinesiology and shares her knowledge with her yoga clients as well as those studying to be yoga teachers. She is a certified yoga therapist (IAYT) and Reiki practitioner who uses both Eastern and Western modalities to guide clients deep into self-healing.
Diane strives to improve the art and science of teaching yoga and to help others enjoy the myriad benefits of yoga as a lifestyle. She is an outdoor enthusiast, and her students love that she presents knowledge from her heart with a sense of humor, inquiry, and humbleness.
Learn more about Diane: di4yoga.com