I have found that writing blogs for the studio can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, trying to keep them relevant and inspiring without circling the same themes over and over again.
If you’ve ever taken a class with me, you already know… I tend to come back to acceptance (it’s basically my life’s work, lol), love, and appreciating nature.
But this month, something a little different has been landing for me. Something I haven’t spoken much about before, but feels like a really important part of this human experience and of spiritual growth.
It’s the idea of being of service.
It’s something I’m actively trying to bring more into my own life. Not just as a concept, but as a way of being. And I’ve been sitting with what that actually looks like… and more importantly, what it feels like.
In Sanskrit, Seva is woven into the heart of yogic philosophy. It asks us to show up ~ fully and freely ~ for something beyond ourselves. Not out of obligation, or guilt, but from a quiet place of knowing that we are all connected.
When I offer myself to someone else, I am, in a way, finding myself.
And the thing is… being of service doesn’t require grand gestures. It lives in the small moments.
The way we listen.
The way we show up.
The way we soften when it would be easier not to.
This being the month of Mother’s Day, it feels natural to start there. For most of us, the very first act of service we ever received was being held by our mothers be
fore we even knew what love was.
Mothering, in all its forms, teaches us what it truly means to give.
And to be blunt and honest, over the years I’ve felt my fair share of frustration in that role. There have been many moments where it’s felt like a one-way relationship, giving and giving, and giving more with little to no appreciation (at least in the moment).
But lately, something has been shifting.
I’ve been trying to move from the idea that I’m here to teach my kids, to the understanding that they are here to teach me.
To teach me what selfless giving actually looks like. When we give from that place, there’s no expectation of getting something back. The receiving is in the act itself, in knowing that we are contributing, in some small way, to kindness in the world.
The saying goes “We give birth to our greatest teachers”, and I’m really starting to understand that.
Whether your mother is here or gone, whether your relationship was tender or complicated, or whether motherhood means something broader to you, this month is an invitation. An invitation to pause, even just for a moment, and acknowledge someone who gave of themselves so you could be who you are.
I also want to share something a little more personal, because it has shaped how I understand service in a much deeper way.
About two years ago, I started volunteering at hospice.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I had to offer. But I knew it would stretch me, and that it was a place I could grow.
What I’ve discovered there is that being of service is often just that… being.
Not fixing.
Not changing.
Not trying to make anything better.
Just being present.
Listening.
Sitting with someone and seeing them just as they are.
Sharing a meal in their final days.
It’s a kind of connection that feels vulnerable and very real. A reminder of our shared humanity at a time when that humanness can sometimes be overlooked.
And what it has shown me, over and over again, is that time is one of the most valuable things we can offer.
Being of service isn’t really a straight path forward. It’s more like a circle… something that naturally comes back around. You think you’re giving, but somehow, you’re the one receiving.
Humanity as a whole benefits when we move from this mindset. Not just for the greater good, but for ourselves as well.
So for the month of May, maybe our yoga practice becomes a kind of rehearsal for how we want to show up in the world.
A few simple ways to begin moving into a mindset of service:
1) Dedicate your practice to someone who may need support ~ a parent, a neighbour, or someone carrying a heavy heart. Sending love out into the world is never wasted, even if we don’t see the result.
2) Volunteer somewhere that challenges you. Let yourself be uncomfortable. That’s often where the growth is.
3) Honour a mother figure in your life. Write a letter, make a call, or simply close your eyes and offer gratitude to someone who has helped shape your path.
4) Practice listening. Really listening. Without needing to fix, advise, or respond. Just being present with someone is one of the most profound acts of service we can offer.
And maybe, alongside all of this, we remember to include ourselves in that care too. True service doesn’t come from depletion. It comes from a place of fullness, of awareness, of presence.
That’s the balance I’m learning to come back to… again and again. And like yoga, it is a practice that just asks us to show up.
In service,
Nicole