Celebrating 1 year with Tribe
Dear Ones
Happy Spring!
A year ago this weekend I hobbled up the stairs on crutches into what used to be the Charm City Yoga midtown building to offer my first week of Tribe classes. What a trip.
The fire room, the main upstairs studio, was where I took my first class when I arrived in Baltimore. It was where I took my 300 hour teacher training with Kim Manfredi and my 20th year anniversary 200 hour teacher training. It is where I taught for 13 years and then in an afternoon it was sold to YogaWorks, and in another afternoon it was closed due to the pandemic.
Coming back was far more emotional than I expected. Our bodies are storehouses of memories that we rarely even consider, and bodily memories of scent and sound and posture are tied to what we were learn at the time. All of this was tied together for me and going up those stairs, walking into that room again was frankly overwhelming on day one.
I have watched other CCY and YW alumni do the same thing; come in and almost tear up for how the space lands them in a different time, a different self, but yet here we are in this moment, now.
I chose to teach against the lefthand wall to reorient myself, to start fresh from a different perspective, different light through the windows, different layout to the mats on the floor. This has given me a newness that I can create from, rather than a sense of history looking over my shoulder. Lola offers a creative license that I never had with any other owner of that room. Momentarily each day, I am the owner, I am the creatrix of how we move and breathe and become.
At first I kept teaching as I was told to for YogaWorks - out of habit, out of fear, it was strictly defined what we say, what we offer, when, why. But it chafed. I tried to explain it to Lola. She laughed and told me to get over myself and teach what I was here to offer and stop living in history (Big blessings on our Brazilian leaderess). And so I have.
In honor of our first full year I am offering a celebratory class of partner kriyas at Tribe on Sunday morning 9am. You don't need to bring a partner. We will keep swapping partners so you'd lose your date anyway. I know that since the pandemic (5 years ago!) I've felt socially distanced and haven't really been able to get all the way back to connection to other people in the way I would like to. That may seem odd given I get to gather and hug and teach every day, but there is a hesitance I've noticed that seems lodged and needs to shift.
Partner kriyas are like any other kriya; we set ourselves up, understand the outer aspect of the action, and then settle in and let the inner magic reveal itself. This will be the same. Sit and make contact and work together in a simple pattern. Inevitably these make me weep. Especially when I don't know the person I am with. To look a stranger in the eye and feel seen and see them and be held in that gaze... it's just what I need to finally crack this lingering shell.
You are welcome to come try. Our celebration is open to everyone.
Register here if you know you are in - the class will cap at 30 to keep space for those who attend.
This year will be my 30th year of living / practicing yoga. Its philosophy is in everything I do. Every day.
I try to leave and it always calls me back. It seems to be what I'm built to do.
So here I am, offering what I know. The door is open wide. I look forward to seeing you.
And if you are far from me, send a hello in reply and I will put your name on my mat for the morning and we will share this connection across space and time. I'll post a picture next newsletter.
My very best to you. I feel shaken lately. You matter in my stability.
Keep showing up for your Loves. Find what keeps you elevated, what feels important, what calls.
Don't get lost in the news or the screens. I am determined to keep my head clear through this year.
More on that next newsletter.
And always if you want to drop in on an online class any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning 8-9am EST, just let me know and I can connect you to the zoom link or replay for that day.
Until then, all love and light xx Martha