“Yoga studios have become our “new social cafes” What is your social playground?
I grew up in Europe where neighborhood communities build organically around parks, cafes, and small dinners with friends at home but also by sharing before and after work metro rides in Paris. In the metro, is it being close or just packed like sardines in a can!
Now living in Venice, California where driving is required to get anywhere on the other side of town, we may feel isolated and lonely. As I had just moved to L.A. some years ago, I first found and built my community at UCLA studying then painting with other artists and practicing Yoga in the Yoga world. That was the jackpot!
When we sweat, breath and immerse ourselves together for 1.5 hours several times a week, we feel open and connected to others forging new bonds. Friendships develop with like-minded people. We sip an acai smoothie after class. We take a walk on the beach. A friend of mine used to say how wonderful and connecting it is to walk with friends/ family. I do agree indeed. As our conversation flows at our steps’ rhythm, we share our life’s experiences and adventures. Yoga classes bring us closer and together. The Yoga studios and schools have become our “Yogic social cafes”. Two nights ago, we celebrated the summer at Yogaglo (www.yogaglo.com) and LA Yoga magazine (www.layogamagazine.com) summer kick off festival. It was a blast with number of non-profit organizations (www.yogagivesback.org)and vendors such as Yoga, Tribe and Culture organic and inspiring Yoga apparel: (www.yogatribeandculture.com) and numerous others. We have gathered as a community that shares a common vision for conscious living and social change. I estimated that there were 500 people gathered on this warm summer night in Santa Monica at the festival at Yogaglo studio.
As a Yoga and meditation teacher, I encourage community building in my classes. I love to see how friendships are born and how community is interweaved class after class, particularly in Yoga retreats. A month ago, we were in Hawaii on the big island at Kalani Oceanside retreat (www.kalani.com) for my annual spring Rejuvenation and Empowerment Yoga retreat. We enjoyed living, eating and moving in Yoga together. All those shared moments on the mat or at the Kaluea Volcano are unforgettable. We can’t wait to meeting again on our next year May 9-16, 2010 Kalani Hawaiian retreat adventures.
Whatever you fancy be it biking, cooking, playing sports, music, book clubs, there is a community of wonderful people you can reach out to, waiting to be discovered. All it takes is to carve out some time each week to play, be social and enjoy life.
Be in the flow until next time,
Isabelle Du Soleil was born and raised in Paris, France. She now lives in Los Angeles, California. She is a certified Yoga Teacher, Wellness Expert and Artist.