images by kate donaldson. not taken this week :) these pics are from years ago when i lived in humboldt county for a little while.

This week, I took 3 classes at a new yoga studio I'd never been to. During my practice, these reminders came up:

The power of silence

It is so powerful to invite space for silence in class. As a highly sensitive person who is easily overstimulated by the world, I greatly value having time in my practice where there is no input. No cueing. No music. No entertainment. No invitation from the teacher to think, reflect, move, try harder, etc. I love those moments when I can just be in my body and observe.

throwback photos taken in humboldt county, ca by kate donaldson.

2. The power of setting expectations (or actually being able to show up for class without them, which I wasn’t ;)

Giving accurate class descriptions goes a long way towards setting realistic expectations. There's a balance to this. I think the yoga studio is responsible for sharing this information in a way that's easy to find (maybe on their website or through a verbal explanation to someone new when they come in for the first time). It's also on us as students to research what kind of class we're attending, or ask what to expect. One of the classes I went to was a "Restore" class, which I thought meant a traditional Yin class. It felt more like a Slow Flow class to me. Lots of movement with breath, some core work, just generally more active than restful. I was disappointed when we didn't hold poses and I was really hoping for 5-10+ minutes in Savasana (rather than the 2 that were given, after the class time had ended). I take responsibility that I walked into the class not really having looked up what to expect; at this studio, "Restore" doesn't mean Yin. I was reminded how every yoga studio has their style and even if it doesn't fit with my own, that's okay.

yoga in humboldt. look how short my hair was then!

3. The power of giving yourself time to find a yoga space you like, and the power of first impressions when new students walk in the door

Showing up in a new space takes courage. If you're new to yoga and you took the time and effort to try a new space, give yourself credit for that. It can be hard walking into a new community where you aren't sure if you'll belong and you don't know what to expect. If you try a space that doesn't resonate with you, don't give up on your search. Every studio is different and it's okay if the first one (or few) don't click for you. It's also perfectly okay to develop a home practice with a teacher online that resonates with you. Listen to your body and if you have sharp pain in any of the poses, do a little research and learn how to modify.

In the same vein, if you're someone who runs a studio, keep in mind how powerful first impressions are. You only get one chance at this. Having someone friendly and welcoming at the front desk goes a long way. It's even better when the teacher remembers your name and checks in with you after class. This makes students feel seen and welcome.

Okay, that's my yoga PSA for today! Thanks as always for reading along and big hugs to all the yoga teachers, studio owners, and yoga newbies out there who are practicing this week. I appreciate you! Keep going! We've got this! #aliveinthefire #yoga #yogateacher

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