Community

Community is an important vehicle for transformation-- Lee Lozowick When I began my yoga practice there was not much conversation regarding it-- I decided, looked up a teacher and went. Most of my friends at the time were corporate types climbing over each other to be seen and heard. Yoga to them would have been "a great way to network". I remember walking into my first class, as confident as I project myself, I was scared shitless-- I don't normally do things I'm not the best at--such a child really-- I laid down my brand new mat(idiot) and proceeded to slip and slide all over the place. See now that I understand the way to go about things- a yoga mat needs time to accept you, you cannot unroll it in your car and think its ready when you walk in-- it needs time to breathe, it needs time to understand your intentions. In yoga your mat is your beginning relationship to the practice. In truth all of your intentions, fears, and triumphs are shared there. I don't know it but the day I stepped on my mat was the day I began to understand in yoga it's you face to face with you. Everyone was so welcoming, they didn't care who I was, what accomplishments I had attained, what I did outside of that room because thy knew I was there to practice. I found out later that I was a fool to think I was coming to practice yoga....I was really coming to practice life. See, nothing is hidden about you on your mat-- it is abundantly clear what you are trying to hide because your body only knows the truth, your body is not designed for camouflage. Every emotion comes out in yoga-- if you try to hide any insecurity any full blown neurosis is displayed. And in this class that is what I loved. For the first time in a long time I welcomed my body to line up with my heart. I didn't have to choose one or the other. As I stepped on my mat that day I opened to the community of myself, I began a journey of awakening that would change my life.