Yoga: not just shapes

I took a virtual yoga class once that started with grounding breathing.

There wasn’t anything particularly special about the techniques, but as I was laying there on my dining room floor, eyes closed, listening to the instructor through my headphones, she called our attention to the fact that at that SAME moment, millions of other people in the world were breathing, too. And the hundred or so people in that class alone were taking a big synchronized breath.

There was something so powerful about the idea that even though I was physically alone in this class, I wasn’t the only one experiencing it. Even though I was alone in the room, I’m not the only person in the world experiencing that exact moment in time.

That’s something that’s really stuck with me. And whenever I show up to a class and someone tells me that they are tired or having a rough go of it, or they just need some space…it reminds me that this person might feel pretty alone right now. And it’s my job to help them feel seen, heard, and valued.

The shapes we make with our bodies are tools for awareness and meditation and all the things that come to mind when you think of a yoga practice.

But the community we create, the self-love and awareness we foster is (in my humble opinion) where the real magic is ✨

If you’ve been struggling and feeling alone, some things you might try:

• Take a yoga or group fitness class

• Make an effort to talk to one person before or after the class

• Sign up for newsletters from the people you enjoy hearing from

• Text an old friend to say “hi”

• Take a walk and make eye contact with the people you pass by

• Start a conversation with someone you’ve been following for a while instead of scrolling endlessly

• Make a list of 3 things that you know make you feel connected, and do one of those things

• Put your feet in the grass

I hope this helps you feel a little more connected.