Playing with our edge

In trauma therapy we talk a lot about the window of tolerance. If we go outside of it, it can lead to depression or anxiety stemming from a hyper or hypo-aroused nervous system, among other symptoms and behaviors. There are many different ways to expand this window, such as mindfulness/meditation, tools for regulation, connection to others, ect. When I was in my 20's public speaking terrified me. I began the practice of meditation in my late 20s and had had a daily practice for many years when I had a job where I began to be expected to speak in front of large groups of people from the medical community. I found that I was able to speak without my previous anxiety response and could only credit my meditation practice. As I've moved through the decades of my life, I've found that continuously doing things outside of my comfort zone and getting acclimated and comfortable with

challenge has been part of my journey, as well as incorporating daily practices that support my capacity to extend beyond my edges. Yoga teacher training and teaching yoga have been that for me for the past few years, and it's been lovely to witness my transition from being heady and nervous to more grounded and able to focus more on my students. Continuously placing myself in the role of student and learner is humbling and inspiring. What are your edges? Are there ways you are gently inviting challenge and discomfort in a supportive way? What practices and routines support your expansion of your window of tolerance and how can you tell when you've gone beyond it?