Anchored in our Roots, Carried through Storms.
by Pam Blum
Have you ever felt so overwhelmingly grateful that you wept soft tears of joy for the unconditional kindness of people you’ve never met?
In 2011, I went in for a routine procedure that unexpectedly took a turn into Plan D. I required multiple blood transfusions and spent over a week in the hospital. Years later, when I was finally eligible to donate blood, I was viscerally overcome with emotion as I gave my first unit. I was finally giving back to a circle of unseen care that had saved my life.
In a remarkably similar way, Pranakriya found me in 2009. I wasn’t looking for yoga at all, but the breathwork, movement, and gentle invitation to step beyond my known way of being softly beckoned to me. Just as those transfusions sustained my physical body, Pranakriya’s foundational practices became my steady chariot through difficult seasons—weathering relationship trials, parenting difficulties, work challenges, and the constant noisy, ego-driven internal ticker tape whispering, "You're not good enough."
The recent passing of Dolly Parton sparked a powerful reminder of what it means to live with an open heart while staying fiercely connected to your roots. For us in Pranakriya, those roots run deep. When the Kripalu community faced big shifts, Yoganand Michael Carroll stepped forward to preserve the quiet, transformative lineage of Swami Kripalu. That throughline is our safe, strong chariot—a time-tested container that holds us through the storms and battles of life.
Today, I feel immense gratitude and honor to serve as a volunteer keeping our non-profit school’s candle lit in a loud, windy, world, and as Director of the Deepening the Asana Experience Advanced Teacher Trainer Programs. Pranakriya does not take your power away; it hands it back to you with timeless low tech power tools for self-reflection, deep connection and authentic direction.
My wish for our community is that you feel the true depths of this interconnectedness and know that you are supported by roots that run deep and a chariot built to carry you through.
May we stay rooted in practice, carried by tradition, and connected in gratitude. I look forward to practicing and learning with you!
How has Pranakriya served as a chariot or anchor in your own life? I would love to hear your story—reply to this newsletter or drop a note in our community circle.
Jai Bhwagwan!
