Co-Practice, Self-Practice

Practicing just about anything with others helps me get started on something unfamiliar or out of practice, and to maintain it. It holds me accountable to show up and to stay connected to the wiser, truer parts of myself. It’s easier to maintain my edge when I’m practicing with others. I learn things, and I realize how much further I can go. When I’m struggling, I get to see that I’m not alone, and that others care. I feel a sense of togetherness in sharing a goal or practice. Plugging into a highly intentioned group is deeply supportive and nourishing. This could be a small group or 1:1. I could be learning or teaching, working with a coach, or being a coach.  

Self practice gives me the flexibility to practice on my own time and in my own space. I get to strengthen my ability to self-initiate, to connect to my own power source, to self-coach, and to be self-accountable. I learn to be consistent without using others as a crutch and blaming external schedules for not keeping up. It teaches me to hold space sacred for myself.

So it’s not one or the other. It’s both.

Even with my doctors and wellness practitioners, it’s both. In fact, here's a good example of how to leverage both a co-practice and self-practice:

My doctors couldn't possibly know me and my family better than I do because I have the fuller context, and I have a better idea how we tick. But they know things I don’t, for sure. So it’s a partnership. 

When my children were small, I only knew one kind of medical modality, and I visited my doctors based on a check-up schedule for my children, and when one of us got sick. 

Then I discovered other modalities that focus on prevention and growth. I learned to heal through foods, home remedies, and lifestyle choices, and I found that I rarely needed to see doctors beyond the annual wellness visit. It felt pretty liberating, but eventually a bit isolating. Not that I was looking for reason to see doctors, but I realized that we can partner with certain practitioners the way we do coaches to support and thrive.  

I practice daily self care. I make it a commitment not to be "too busy" to take care of myself. I also make regular visits to my most trusted doctor-practitioners; not because I’m sick, but for accountability and support. When I do this, my level of self awareness becomes more elevated. I prepare for my appointments by knowing what updates I’ll share with them, and what questions I’ll ask. This is huge for me because when I started this 20 years ago, I could barely articulate how I was feeling and where. 

In case this is helpful to you, I maintain two regular visits: one with my chiropractor for a reset, and the other with my TCM for brief check-in, acupuncture, and cupping. I noticed that when I keep these partnerships active, my ability to stay on top of my own wellness deepens, and I feel better with less effort. These wellness partners know what’s going on with me, and they ask me amazing follow-up questions. While they add to my monthly budget, I’ve learned that having wellness conversations, practices, and support with those who care and know how to assist in my well-being is as essential an investment as the financial ones. 

This is where interdependence comes into play. On my own, there’s independence. Connecting with others where there’s a mutual exchange and partnership with those that care about my vitality and success, and where I learn to take an active role in it (because who knows me better than me, and who can see my blind spots better than some who's outside of me and trained) - that's interdependence. 

This applies to all areas of life where you want to thrive. Last week, I discussed the difference between co-dependence, dependence, independence, and interdependence. Co-dependence isn’t a step. Dependence is a child. Independence is learning to walk before you fly (interdependence). Find that sacred space for yourself, and find your reliable support network. 

Love, Savitree

P.S. - We have a Self Practice app that comes with a community platform for whenever you’re ready to join in the conversation. We created the Self Practice with a lot of love and consideration to help you increase your energy and bring you the clarity you need to feel more at ease in your body and in your life. This includes practices in kundalini yoga, meditation, soul-journaling, habit stacking, calendaring, food & recipes, challenges, and more. Please join. It’s super accessible, and for a limited time, it’s pay-what-you–want.