While practicing yoga alone has its benefits, practicing yoga in a class setting offers an unexpected advantage: the bond developed with people who share similar aspirations, interests, and perspectives on life. Yoga Body Shop knows the importance of this connection to a community. We have seen time and again the power of practicing in a class, driving yogis to be a catalyst for change not only in themselves, but also in the community.
The Power of a Yoga in a Community
Simply put, yoga connects people. You enter class as an individual, yet the collective flow during class creates a connection and you find that you leave as a part of a community. The atmosphere of a group class is motivating not only when you are in the class, but afterwards, driving you to return. You have a bond with your instructor, as well as others in the class. It’s like having workout buddies in other fitness settings.
- #LetsGetItStarted – Starting anything in life is hard. We start so many things, but only about half of them come to realization. We all need some level of encouragement and support to start anything new, yoga included.
- #Togetherness – Yogis are more in tune with one another during a yoga class because they’ve all gone through the same flow for the last hour.
- #Competition – Competition motivates you to push ahead and helps you cross new physical boundaries. While yoga is not for competition, you are naturally encouraged to engage at the level of those around you in class—whether it be holding a posture or focusing your energy.
- #Motivation – While competition is a great motivator, positive motivation and encouragement from classmates and instructors is just as powerful. Having others cheer you on can motivate you to go beyond your original intention.
- #Passion – As you embrace your new passion, you also become open to connecting with those with the similar interest. You find the connection to others intensifies your joy during a class and your desire to return and repeat.
Breakaway from the #COVID routine
Practicing yoga at home can be a rewarding experience, but as we’ve learned during COVID closures, being alone can also make your body and thoughts feel isolated from others. Yoga in a studio setting with a class of other yogis, however, gives you an excellent opportunity to move out of the house, connect with others and break up the day-to-day of everyday life.
Share Yourself and Learn
B.K.S. Iyengar, is quoted to say, “Yoga is firstly for individual growth, but through individual growth, society and community develop”. Yoga in a class setting helps you learn from other’s experiences. The learning facilitated becomes a cycle where people exchange roles constantly. Teachers are originally students of their own life experiences, they become teachers only when they humbly share their experiences with their students, who in turn become teachers by sharing their own experiences and displaying their own perspective of life issues. These experiences and thoughts on various poses, yoga, meditation, living a spiritual life, etc., and the resulting benefit from each other’s perspectives can only happen a class setting.
Yoga Body Shop founders, Linda and Ron Sambursky, and staff are committed to the growth of every student, helping them achieve levels of performance beyond what they ever thought possible. At Yoga Body Shop, we recognize the benefits of yoga in a community setting and how it transcends the yoga mat and integrates into people’s daily lives, causing true personal transformation. We realize this power is possible for everyone, and we are committed to empowering every student that walks into our studio to explore and unlock their fullest potential. Click to review our upcoming class schedule and join our community on the mat!