This blog is about yoga but the yoga in our lives, not just the yoga on our mats. Yoga is Sanskrit for union and when we begin to see the connections between things, well, we just can’t stop! Think of it as “Six Degrees of Yoga” (instead of Kevin Bacon).

There have been many starts, stops and deletes since I decided to add a blog to the website. I love yoga, the practice, the philosophy, the mythology and have struggled with a desire to share everything I have learned so you fall in love too. I also have watched my ego try to impress you, or at least not embarrass myself, to make every word perfect. But then I remembered what I tell my students in yoga class. Leave perfection to the Creator (whatever name you give it), just show up, breathe and begin. When the breath flows, the energy flows and in this case, the words flow. When we try to do (or say) too much, we communicate nothing. So in this spirit I’m just going to breathe and start.

Let’s start at the start; your first class at Tapestry Yoga Studio. I began taking yoga classes not to become enlightened, or to know myself or to connect with the Universe. I took my first yoga class because I worried about my weight and I was looking for a new workout. There you have it. Not the most auspicious beginning but the Universe works in mysterious ways! So don’t be intimidated by your first yoga class. Your reason and intention for coming to class are your own. As long as you are open minded, open hearted and respectful you will always be welcome at Tapestry.

Let’s get the mundane detritus out of the way. Bring water. You will sweat and want to avoid dehydration, of course, but you are also moving energy around and water is a dynamic medium and will help keep things flowing, literally. We have mats you can use which we clean regularly, but even so, if you’re going to stick with yoga, it’s a good idea to get your own. You don’t need to spend a lot of money. Get one that feels good and don’t discount the importance of colour. When you look at your mat, you should feel good. When your mat is new it may be slippery. This is normal. Bring a towel to class so your hands and feet don’t slip and slide. In my classes, you can expect music, eclectic, usually upbeat and often unexpected music. I believe that music is just another expression of energy and in my classes we move energy around A LOT so I use music to set the mood, to inspire and to uplift. Music lightens the mood and lightens our load. It can pull us out of our head space and into our heart space. That’s the place where yoga lives. Did I mention I love music?

This is where the expected ends. During the summer we may meet for class at the studio and then decide we’re going to practice at the park. There may be an intimate class of 4 people or a bustling class of 14. Class may be raucous and upbeat or quiet and contemplative. The focus may be physical and athletic or philosophical and cerebral. I feel that if class is too planned and structured we may miss the opportunity to connect with what is. We need to observe and then respond to what we find and that can only happen in the present moment. As my dear friend says, “Take what you need!!” (Everyone needs a friend who speaks with a lot of exclamation points!!!) We can’t know what we need if we don’t make space to listen. Let your yoga class be that space.

There is one more thing you can expect at Tapestry; fun. I believe yoga should be fun. It doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be challenging and uncomfortable, but we can enjoy the process of growing and stretching, our bodies, minds and hearts. I believe we’re here to learn about ourselves so we can connect with each other and yoga is a great, dare I say perfect, way to do that.

See you soon. Love and Namaste, Anju