Spring Yoga Event reflections

Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would meet someone from Moldova at one of my yoga events. The vision of Tejal Yoga is to educate and empower yoga students all over the world to advocate for yoga through a social justice lens and through our community building, the other teachers and I do get to meet yoga students living all over the world. But Maldova? Not in my wildest imagining. Nope. 

That's when I discovered that the student who was in town from Oregon was also an immigrant from Moldova.

Except that's exactly what happened on Saturday at the Spring Settling Yoga Event in Santa Monica on unceded Tongva, Chumash, Kizh land. Our group of 12 including me, gathered in a sweet, cozy place and mingled while settling in over tea. That's when I discovered that the student who was in town from Oregon was also an immigrant from Moldova. And during the workshop we were able to really meet one another through the activities of group check-in - our check-in reflection was one word about Spring so far and again during focused 1-1 time for which we paired up. I learned even more about this community member while we settled in sipping tea and after while we were all wrapping up and exiting the space as they made the long journey back to OR with their partner.

It's these interactions and so many of the other meaningful moments in the community that I love. It's why I offer yoga in the way that I do, with meaningful exchange and deep personal reflection. The energy exchanged in our community spaces is never lost on me, just as the law of conservation on energy states. As we continue to build our community and let it shift and flow as our community containers shift and flow, both in-person and virtually, I'm reminded of a conversation with a friend in May about The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. My friend referenced this book as we discussed how in our younger years we were likely to invite large groups with diverse interests into one gathering space and how that might have been an unintentional way to exclude people or ensure that not everyone was able to connect. We remarked how we learned and practiced later in life that the opposite is also true: when you carefully cultivate intention for an event and are clear about both the function of the event (ie. practice yoga in a holistic way) and the purpose of the event (ie. to settle into Spring as it is through journaling, group sharing, meditation, movement, and rest ) you bring together a group of people that are interested in not only presence but also the deeper connections that may arise.

bring together a group of people that are interested in not only presence but also the deeper connections that may arise.

It's what I remembered and felt in the past two Spring Yoga Events Mar 27 and Jun 3. And it's what has helped me feel even more grounded in where I am in life and work and with all of you as we continue to delve into the carrying out of the Tejal Yoga Vision.

Thank you so much for being a part of this community! It's been such a pleasure getting to know you and to hear from you as you continue to stay an active and integral part of this community.

Feel free to email with your thoughts! Or drop an anonymous reply here.

x

Tejal