The official kick off for the main conference gave attendees the chance to come together to get to know each other, have a snack, and be entertained. I have to say, when I first walked into the room I was a little overwhelmed. Afterall, it was an intimate setting, and I was afraid I might not fit in with the roomful of seasoned yogis. So I did what any good Southern girl would do. I went straight for the food and made conversation with others who were filling their plates about how lovely the banquet table looked. I was greeted by some of the most warm, accepting people I've ever come into contact with (no exaggeration). Everyone was so eager to talk about the experiences they had in their all-day intensives, and to find out more about mine. It made me think about the yoga community as a whole.
It's no wonder that yoga has become so popular in the last decade. No matter how uncomfortable beginners might feel at a first yoga class, it's hard not to get hooked after coming into contact with welcoming yoga teachers and practitioners. I'm not saying that everyone who practices yoga is pleasant all the time--that would be silly. But there seems to be a sense of comeradery (and an enthusiam to extend that comradery to others) that I haven't experienced in any other group of people. I think that says a lot about the practice of yoga.
Then the entertainment began. Acroyoga, a yoga and acrobatic performing group, awed us all with syncronized yoga movements and stunts. This performance quickly reminded me of how beautiful and amazing the practice of yoga can be. Even though many of us will never be able to make our bodies move in the way this group did, a simple asana practice can be just as beautiful if the intentions behind it are pure.
Then again, maybe it's just my post-Savasana high talking.
Namaste.
Lisa Maria, a local writer who writes about yoga for Common Ground magazine, describes the inspiration that many felt after watching Ana Forrest's Asana Demonstration by saying that Ana is "a walking miracle."