Be A (Yoga) Buddy
Last week in We’re All In This Together, I was writing about Michael Stone’s workshop and how he strongly believed in the crucial role of communities.
It really changes your experience to have a yoga buddy. It’s nice to go to class and see at least one familiar face, to share your practice and to talk about it afterwards.
It can be a lovely relationship, full of kind gestures like saving a mat, and preparing some props, but also it can mean sending a quick text if one of you doesn’t come to class as usual. A yoga buddy can be the one who gets you out of bed if you have the winter blues: and that’s priceless.
[source: www.ehow.com]
Also, there are lots of things you tell your yoga buddy that you might not share with other important people in your life as yoga is such a safe environment for many of us.
Getting to know your fellow yogis seems to be easier said than done for a newcomer, and as yogis, we prefer our carrots and our relationships to be organic. Often the most difficult step is the first one. So here are a few suggestions to start engaging with fellow yogis:
- drink water and tea: the water cooler and the tea room are the bars of yoga. They are an easy opportunity for socialising.
- changing room: not all changing rooms lend themselves to conversations but some are quite friendly.
- friendly accessories: I’ve got a few pair of cute socks from Europe and I get a lot of nice remarks on them. So socks can be an ice breaker!
- props: ask your neighbour if they need bring an extra prop.
- partner yoga: why not choose practices that involve more partner work such as acroyoga.
- teacher training, workshops, retreats: spending time with a group of yogis will definitely create affinities.
- blogs: read other yogis’ blogs or connect with them on social networks, you can end up meeting in real life!
- smile: it’s always a good thing!
