I was in the middle of teaching my 9:30 Fire class on Thursday when I got tears in my eyes. I looked at all of the fabulous, sweaty yogis and yoginis in the room, most of them who make this Thursday class their priority. They build their schedule around this class, some of them coming from as far as New Glarus to practice yoga in a studio where they feel a sense of community, a sense of belonging, a sense of unity through sweat.
Why do we practice yoga together? Why not just in front of our DVD player in our living room?
Practicing yoga in a group creates a community. We practice yoga together to gain strength from each other, encouragement, the will to go on. Fire class for 90 minutes in a 105 degree heated room is no easy feat. If we didn’t have each other’s energy to borrow from, imagine how much more challenging it would be.
‘Kula’ is derived from a Sanskrit word that means “community of the heart”.
We are constantly welcoming new members into our kula. A kula can grow as big as a heart can. I see new people in my classes sometimes with that deer-in-the-headlights look upon entering the hot room. I know that in a few minutes one of our “regulars” will welcome her with a smile, an encouraging word. We’re in this together.
It’s so inspiring as a teacher to see this come to fruition. Sure, I lead the class with instruction and tidbits of advice, but it’s the kula that does the work. With a calm and steady gaze, each yogini offers herself as a pillar of the class, of the studio, of the practice.
Our Dragonfly Kula…the coolest kula in town.
