Once the light returns and the days lengthen, I find the serenity of welcoming summer. In the Midwest, after our wild winter of cold and dark, we begin the ritual of going outside to say hello to our neighbors.
The greeting “hello” is humanity’s need for connection. It is the elixir the soul needs.
Welcoming is the ability to let in the sweet smile of one’s heart and the grace of acknowledging that we are in need of human kindness. A simple, direct nod and greeting allows for an experience of opening and receiving.
We, as humans, need shared moments that give us permission to feel alive and seen. We are in the midst of a human condition of loneliness and isolation. After COVID, we have forgotten how important it is to feel the energy of a collective embrace of belonging.
The greeting of hello is humanity’s
need for connection.
I never thought that when I named my yoga center, Yoga Among Friends, it would become such a profound legacy of my own personal need for community.
I knew how important it was for my own existence, as I had lived in LA for years and struggled to feel a true connection. I was going through a divorce, moving constantly to find a home, and not feeling comfortable fitting in with a religious organization or a health club gym that never called my soul.
I always wanted to have a community that allowed me to question and remain curious, without the rigid dogma of limited possibilities. I also never intended the practice of yoga to be seen as only body image or the identity of one’s physical abilities.
I always saw the teachings as a way to embrace self-love and acceptance, and as the gateway to feeling one’s true inner beauty.
When I started teaching yoga, there was never a dress code defined by the fashion industry. I would laugh when most questions about coming into the studio were, “What do I wear?” My response has always been, “Wear what feels comfortable for you.”
Yes, outer identity is what keeps us separated, when the true gift of practicing yoga is that we can drop the outer shell of our containers and be seen as a living, breathing expression of a smile.
It takes a willingness to explore the coming inward and the dropping of an outer protection that hides our inner light. This is not done in one class, nor is it expected to result in some huge transformation.
It is a willingness to be committed to sitting with our awkwardness and to witness the frustration of our physical bodies breathing and moving in new ways.
The shifts in thought that keep us hostage to old beliefs and habits slowly come to our awareness. And with that awareness, a profound shift begins.
Self-love is not self-pleasure or the need to fix ourselves. It is self-acceptance. It is the ability to meet oneself right where one is, and to experience the welcoming of our true self in loving kindness.
It is the ability to receive the greeting of a simple hello that can nourish the empty space in our hearts that has longed to be seen.
Namaste is the simple hello that says, “The light in me sees the light in you.”
How beautiful and how lovely to be seen.
Namaste is the simple hello that says: the light in me sees the light in you.
Ready to step into the studio? Explore our class schedule and find a practice that feels supportive.
I hope to inspire you to come into the studio as a safe haven. To feel the support of being enough, and the willingness to risk dropping the armor of protection that the mind has learned.
Sometimes the mind overprotects and prevents life from coming in.
To breathe, one needs an open physical space, and the mind must feel safe. Tension is a physical response to fear, and it is normal when we are conditioned to doubt everything.
Trust is not the intellect, but the grace of feeling the ease of the intelligence, letting go and allowing something other to be revealed.
Feeling comfortable in our skin is a lifelong journey as we age and navigate all the stages of life.
To celebrate living and to share our hearts together is the true grace that keeps me committed to this sweet studio.
This summer, we are celebrating so many great teachers who are sharing their own expressions of these teachings.
Where in your life are you longing to feel welcomed, seen, or simply greeted with kindness?
We are community, and we are all saying hello.
I hope you join us in a greeting of love.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Namaste is often understood as a greeting of respect and recognition. At Yoga Among Friends, it is a simple reminder that the light within each of us can recognize and honor the light in another.
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Yes. Yoga Among Friends welcomes new and returning students with supportive guidance, thoughtful options, and a compassionate place to practice at your own pace.
If you are new to the studio, our Start Here page can help you begin gently, learn what to expect, and explore the current New Student Intro Offer
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Yoga is not only a physical practice. Practicing in community can help create moments of connection, belonging, and shared presence, especially when we are longing to feel seen and supported.
Not sure where to begin? Reach out and we’ll be happy to help you find a class that feels supportive.
