Practice Ways with Elena Brower
Hold Nothing
Practice Ways is an ongoing feature on Balance Practice that shares notes from writers, makers, coaches, and creatives, offering perspectives on what balance looks like in this real life.
Truly an honour to share some notes from my dear longtime teacher
this month as she prepares to release her beauty of a new book, Hold Nothing, landing widely on 18 November. Elena also writes Hold Nothing here on Substack, a space dedicated to practice, study, and listening, where she generously shares weekly writings and insights on how to live this life with care and presence.Practicing with Elena for nearly 15 years now has changed my life in many ways, more than anything bringing me closer to knowing and being myself. If anyone has created entry points to my own practice, and balance, it’s Elena. Forever thankful for her steadfast presence and leadership.
Hold Nothing is a prayer of a book. I’ve just had the privilege of an early exploration into its artful pages, discovering wise insights, gentle encouragement, spaciousness, and homecoming. Amongst inquiries, Elena encourages us to consider, What is being asked of me? An ongoing question and medicinal daily practice that deepens our understanding of what’s needed, how to let go, and be of service in this tumultuous world.
Like all practice with Elena, Hold Nothing is an ever timely companion and invitation to pause, breathe, and be yourself. It’s something to spend a long while with, and to return to again and again. Permission, granted — come home to yourself.
To hold nothing is to let go of what I thought needed to happen, to allow everyone around me to be who they are, to let reality be what it is... and yet, to bring an appropriate response and my finest effort in the contexts in which I’m serving.
– Elena Brower
With a deep bow to Elena and to you, dear reader, for being here with us.
What’s feeling really good to you in this season?
Strength training followed by yoga is the best. When I have the time and bandwidth to do both I’m my best self. And this season, time with my son who’s now deeply appreciating our time together. One of his buddies is managing a sick mom and he’s showing up with his whole heart now.
What does balance look like for you right now?
Sleeping in.
Sitting still.
Cooking.
What practices support your sense of balance?
Heading to a weeklong sesshin in the middle of promoting my book, 3 weeks prior to launch. Somehow it makes perfect sense to me.
What’s one gesture toward center you’d invite everyone reading to partake with you today?
Read poetry. Or Pico Iyer. Or Charlotte Joko Beck. Or Meggan Watterson...
Hold Nothing is an invitation, an artful, contemplative guide for self-discovery and self-inquiry, bringing wisdom, encouragement, and permission for your practice and your daily life. With 45 practices, and featuring Elena’s own full-color pieces of artwork, each section holds prompts and practices for your ongoing exploration. You can preorder your copy anywhere you love buying books and leave your email here to receive a free hourlong workshop from Elena called The Altar of Your Heart — and if you put in your purchase receipt # near the bottom of the page, you’ll receive a gorgeous 20+ page Guidebook to introduce you to the material. Enjoy!
Mother, mentor, poet, artist, best-selling author, and host of the Practice You podcast, Elena Brower has been teaching yoga asana since 1999 and studying and practicing Zen meditation since 2020. Her weekly live yoga practices and meditations are featured on Glo and she works to elevate bright futures for girls and women through her support for Girls on Fire Leaders, On The Inside, and Free Food Kitchen.
Learn more and practice with Elena at elenabrower.com.
!!! so thankful, Erin.