239: Connecting in Divisive Times with Sinéad O’Connor

These are divisive times, both online in yoga communities and beyond that. Some people are for the vaccine, some people are against it, some people have questions and are uncertain about their stance. Yet, these divisions are the opposite of what yoga is about. This podcast is all about connections, and we need to be mindful about how we can extend care to ourselves, those around us, as well as the planet and every living creature.

In this episode, Sinéad O’Connor talks from her perspective as someone with an underlying health condition living through the pandemic. Sinéad is a member of The Connected Yoga Teacher team, a yoga teacher, and active mother of three energetic boys who enjoys camping and hiking. She is also someone who lives with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic kidney disease, and is in Stage 3 of renal failure.

Sinéad shares a post she recently wrote about living with this disease during a pandemic, especially on how it is a privilege to be able to question the healthcare offered to us as healthy, able-bodied people. Shannon concludes by urging us to reflect on how we can practice care or ahimsa for someone else — that doesn’t involve trying to change their behaviour or views?

Key Takeaways:

[5:00] We are seeing many divisions in the yoga world right now.

[7:45] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode – Sinéad O’Connor.

“Not everybody understands what it’s like to live with an underlying health condition in a pandemic.”- Sinéad O’Connor

[8:35] Sinéad shares a little bit about herself and her condition, polycystic kidney disease (PKD).

[9:30] Sinéad recently wrote a post on Facebook about living with this disease in light of the COVID situation.

“Like millions of people living with underlying health conditions, I don’t have the privilege of questioning the healthcare I’m being offered. That privilege is only afforded to the healthy, the able-bodied, the people that once stayed home to protect us.” – Sinéad O’Connor

[13:01] If you would like to support Sinéad’s fundraiser, two things you can do are to give a donation, or share Sinéad’s post to share her story with the world.

“What does care for someone in my community look like without trying to change their views or their behavior?” – Shannon Crow

[13:32] Shannon has a few questions for us to reflect on.

Links:

• Sinéad O’Connor
• Sinéad O’Connor on Instagram
• Sinéad ’s Fundraiser
• Pelvic Health Professionals
• Schedulicity (Coupon Code: CYT2MONTHS)
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group
• Original Post by Sinéad 
• The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 237: Scope of Practice with Drew Hume
• Ahimsa in Action with Wolf Terry
• Facebook Thread about Self Care
• Post about Social Location by Raudhah Rahman

Gratitude to our Sponsors Schedulicity and the Accessible Yoga Conference.