I just returned to my hotel after completing day four of a five day training intensive. It's been day after day of "drinking from a fire hose." I hear my own words tumble in the back of my head, "trust that you are hearing exactly what you need to hear, and will remember just want you need to remember." It's a wealth of new material and new practices in a place I've never been-- literally and figuratively.

Over time I will integrate some of these teachings into my own practice and they will filter eventually into classes. Perhaps. But in the midst of all the unfamiliar, I was reminded of a lovely gem of truth I know in my heart, but haven't heard for a while. There are many practices, many teachings and seemingly unlimited paths through this forest of life. But one of the ones that appears consistently from one tradition to the next is about community.

You can do asana, meditation, pranayama, bandha, mudra, seva, japa, prayer, contemplation, journaling, levitating all the hours of the day. But if you aren't holed up in a cave in the Himalaya, if you are living in this world, there is one essential element to your progress on this path. Sangha-- community. We can't do it alone. I repeat: we cannot do it alone.

So in this week where we celebrate four years since we opened the door for classes, I am on beyond grateful that the premise on which the studio was founded has far surpassed any dream I had for our little urban sanctuary. Because while it is filled with love, good intentions and great yoga, what makes it all work-- what makes it live and thrive (and in turn helps us to live and thrive) is true community.

Thank you for being a part of making our corner of the world a little better through your active participation in our sangha. I hope you'll be able to join us for events this weekend!

Peace,

Jill