Warm winter yoga

We are holding two yoga nights at YaYa House of Tea this month--July 15th & July 29th. Yoga begins at 5:30pm and we follow the practice with warm cups of YaYa's homemade chai and fresh chapati breads. The night is the perfect winter soother and a lovely way to start the week!

What I've grown to love about these evenings is the strong sense of community that emerges. In the afterglow of yoga and in the cozy ambiance of the teahouse, I have met many wonderful people and have so enjoyed the great conversations taking place between local Christchurch people who have just met. Though we often come from different age groups and backgrounds, we practice together, we talk together and then often, at another class or on the street, we will meet again. Connection is made and remembered. In Anusara Yoga, a strong emphasis is placed on the gathering and sustaining of kula--a Sanskrit word meaning "the community of the heart".

Though the weather continues to grow colder, the monthly gatherings at YaYa and our regular weekly classes continue to warm my soul! I love being part of the beautiful kula growing in Christchurch. So well stated by the wonderful Sufi poet Rumi:

"There IS a community of the spirit. Join it, and feel the delight of walking in the noisy street and BEING the noise..."