“Take a moment to soak in all the sounds of nature around you, beyond my breath.” Crickets Chirped. Wind Russeled through the grass. The air was clean with a smell of sunscreen. Brenda’s eight graduating yoga students sat in sukhasana. Eyes closed. As Brenda began their last class before graduating. They had spent the last twelve weeks learning. Learning all things yoga. Learning the poses. The method. The ways to teach it. How to walk a class through it. The sequences. The mentality behind it. They had spent the last twelve weeks becoming yoga teachers. Today, they would embark on their last class together before receiving their teacher certificates and going out into the world to spread the goodness of yoga. Brenda held her YogaBYoga outdoor yoga class at Hope Hill Lavender Farm, a favorite spot of hers. This allowed them to get together for their last class. Because of Covid, over half of their instruction time had been spent on Zoom. So getting together one last time was important to all of them. They came to this class to learn yoga, but they clearly walked away as a group of friends. Cheerleaders for each other. 

After the classes ended, they gathered into a circle. Each of them read the piece of literature (a quote or paragraph) that has inspired them through their twelve weeks. As they concluded their reading, eyes closed and each person went around telling them what they love about that person. We don’t often her praises about ourselves. We don’t often hear what people think of us, especially in such a positive way. Especially amongst a group of women. We women, no surprise to all you, are not only really hard on ourselves but we can be really hard on each other. For this group of women, hearing how they inspired the others in the group. How they uplifted and encouraged others. How they brought joy and laughter, strength and wisdom. Hearing these words of affirmation over and over again, cause alot of emotion for each of them. Rightfully so. As one whose love language is words of affirmation, this exercise and the value of it really hit home with me. I’m so glad Brenda does this with her class attendants!

Girls, thank you so much for welcoming me into your final class. For relaxing and working through your poses as if I wasn’t in your faces. As if I wasn’t some stranger clicking away while you’re trying to channel all the goodness. Thank you for being vulnerable with each other and allowing yourselves to grow and change and become better versions of yourselves. You all will continue to change the world and touch even more lives now that you are each teachers. Congratulations! Brenda, thank you again for asking me to capture one of your classes. For continuing to trust me with this task and for always lifting me up with your words. You sweet sister-in-law, you are a massive light in this world and I’m so blessed to call you family!

If you like this YogaBYoga Outdoor Yoga session, make sure to check out these other small business features:
YogaBYoga | Pennsylvania Yoga Studio
Allentown Yoga Retreat | YogaBYoga Space to Thrive
Graffiti Alley Creative Branding for Business | Gloss Over