I walked into the hot yoga studio today already noticing a sea of beautiful bodies and faces. Right away I started the comparison game in my head. I have trained my mind enough to know to step back from that thought and become an observer. How interesting that the first observation is one of competition and judgment. Why is my first instinct one of division?

I grew up as a dancer and had that same feeling every time I entered a studio space. Noticing all the other dancers and sizing up their skill level next to mine or lack thereof. I was quickly pulled back to those memories of feeling less than.

Yoga from my personal experience has sometimes become a show or performance. Often we can participate in the showmanship of the yoga experience by wearing our best yoga outfit or straining to hit that picturesque type pose. But that does not matter. And from what I realized no one really cares.

What I quickly recognized and snapped back from is the critical, judgmental, disconnected feeling that I had been a witnessing in my thoughts. I came to remember that this is a safe space in a sea of all different shapes, sizes, abilities and levels of flexibility. Bringing with them all types of life experiences they have carried or are carrying at the moment.

The real flexibility for me was the acceptance of where I was in the moment and how beautiful it was to be part of a group of like minded individuals seeking connection just like I was.

I have always mentioned my love for yoga came from the awareness of how yoga made me feel and not how it looked. For that I will keep coming back to my mat. For that I am grateful.