Listen

This is an intention we've set before, but it has never been more important than now to listen, on the mat and off the mat.

No single pose feels the same for everybody. Everything from our anatomy to outside endeavors (running, surfing, weight lifting, etc.) shapes how we experience poses. While we all feel a stretch in our hamstrings during a forward fold, it will feel different to everybody. It's important to listen to your body so that you can learn where you can sink deeper and where you need to back off to prevent injury. 

Just like everybody feels a pose differently, everybody is at yoga for a different reason. Get to know the person on the mat next to yours, listen to their story, learn a little bit about them. It won't happen all at once, but over time you'll get to know the people practicing around you. You will get to share stumbles (and laughs!), successes, and every milestone in between on the mat, and take that energy of support and encouragement off the mat. Remember that everybody has a different story, a different path, and a different experience than you do. We always say the work you do on the mat transfers off the mat. Off the mat starts with the person next to yours.