May LOVE Letter

“When we are controlled by our attachments, we not only lose our peace of mind; we miss the opportunity to enjoy life’s natural unfolding. In fact, all the things we love and appreciate exist because of continuous change. Without change, life itself would not be possible.

Real happiness arises when we can love ourselves and the world, while welcoming andappreciating change. This does not mean that we should live like rocks and allow theriver of change to flow around us. Love naturally motivates us to attempt to mold theworld in a way that enhances love, but wisdom also teaches that we should not getattached to things existing in an exact way, because change will always come.”

-Yung Pueblo

May is our studio's birthday month, and this year we celebrate seven years of this community! Every year around this time, I reflect on the year past- on all the years past- on where I am today, how the studio has changed, all the new faces, all the ones who have moved on. Change really has been the only constant around here, with many forces shaping our spaces, our teachers, our students, our offerings, our vibe, all of it. At times change has felt jarring or challenging. And each human that has been here since the beginning is also what has given our studio and community its life- the way the students and teachers shape it with their unique energies, wisdom, experiences, and personal wisdom. It is a living breathing thing, each of our studio spaces shaped by the elements of each person involved.

While business ownership, studio ownership, and the managing of teachers and clients has its inevitable ups and downs, what remains is a through line of dynamic love, care, joy, growth, wellbeing, and community. None of this can be perfect, nor ever will be, and that is a great comfort and reminder for me today as I ponder all the change that has been and will be to come for us. I hold it all with compassion, curiosity, and on good days, with a sense of non-attachment. And this is one of the main teachings of yoga.

Leading people in any capacity- whether at work or at home or out in the world- asks us to get really honest about ourselves. Having self awareness, another teaching and goal of yoga, can be difficult. And thus, it asks us to give it honest work, time, and commitment. Looking honestly and compassionately at ourselves, or Svadhyaya, is painful and challenging. It asks the hard questions like, am I willing to look at myself? Am I willing to see where I get caught and triggered? Am I willing to say sorry and not ruminate on the past? And ultimately, am I willing to admit hard truths about myself and let the things go that will make space for new growth?

This is where our practice comes in. When we can observe ourselves and our relationship patterns with curiosity, then we can start to widen our circles ofperception, expanding our capacity to be humble, to assume the best of others in the way we would want others to do for us, and to grow in the ways we need to. So today, I can honestly say that I am so grateful. For all the lessons, for all the humans, for all the joys and hardships, for all the highs and lows, for all the moments of studio ownership, teaching, leading, loving, and losing. For these are all great teachers, and this is life. This is a great dedication to yoga and community- May this work and space continue to be of benefit to others, near and far, now and always. May it all ultimately ripple out for the better; and may we all be changed by it in the ways we need to be changed.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this studio and community in any way, shape, or form. W e quite literally could not exist without you. Know that however small or large a part you have played, you have made it what it is.

Love + gratitude + growth,

Holly

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