April LOVE Letter

Holly Purdy
Apr 1, 2025
2 min read

“Love is the absence of judgment.”

— Dalai Lama

Why Community Matters

I had my big aha moment with yoga while attending my first ever yoga retreat in 2017. This was after I had taken my 200hr training, but of course I had just begun to scratch the surface areas of what yoga is. At this point, I LOVED doing all the poses and sweating and getting strong through the practice, but I had no idea that there was a massive thing missing from my practice- a COMMUNITY to witness me and lift me up. I don't think I had once in my life felt like I really belonged anywhere, not truly.

My aha moment came while singing mantras together with a group at this retreat. I could also not believe the feeling of vulnerability that came with solo-ing in front of others, in being witnessed in my deepest insecurity. In fact it made me CRY... like, a lot. Of course at the time it felt pretty awful to eek out a few sounds and then cry in front of the group. But something opened in me, especially after hearing a jubilant applause to my very mediocre ability to sing. This was what kindness and vulnerability felt like- this was what ACCEPTANCE felt like.

This was also when I found my teacher, Nat Kendall, who I want to give the deepest gratitude to here. He remains a beloved teacher and influence in my life. It is SO important to find a teacher who humbly shares the teachings of yoga in a way that speaks to your heart. I will be assisting this SAME retreat with him at Feathered Pipe Ranch this June. I think I have been back to his retreat maybe 6-7 times! It has become an anchor in my life.

While yoga is a deeply personal journey, it is also meant to be shared with others. THAT for me is where the real magic is. In learning, growing, witnessing, and showing up for ourselves AND others. In supporting, witnessing, accepting, and allowing others to be as they are. What I love about yoga is that we are in the business of expanding our minds and unlearning all the programming. We aren't wanting to be further programmed in the ways of some establishment. We are here to get FREE of all that together. Now that's community- to support the freedom and possibility of each human JUST as they are!

SO...I want you to know that you are welcomed and accepted at LOVE regardless of:

Gender
Skin Color
Political and Religious Beliefs (you do YOU and leave others alone to be who they are)
Sexual Orientation
Migrant/Visa Status
Socioeconomic Status