Namaste: The Power of Community as a Yoga Teacher and Student

Through yoga, we discover that we are not a single entity on this planet. We discover the power of community in the yoga world and uncover the true meaning of “Namaste”.

Have you ever observed yoga students who come into class without conversations, focus solely on their practice, and leave immediately after class without any interaction with those around them?

We all have different personalities. Yet, how we interact with those around us influences our connections with the world.

Single focus without connection can result in isolation.

When we show up to yoga in this way, we miss out on the power of community that the practice has to offer.

Not to say that isolation doesn’t have its benefits: avoiding distractions, being productive, and discovering your true identity. Yet, complete solitude has the potential to isolate individuals, making them an island in the midst of this vast world.

17th-century English poet, John Donne said,

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…”

If we focus entirely on just what we are doing on the single island, then we miss out on the beauty of the archipelago of connections that we are a part of.

We are not alone in this world, nor alone in our life journey.

We are all part of a greater community that only functions successfully when we all work together, connect, and support each other. Yoga is one function of tapping into the power of community.

We are part of an entity—a greater planet where all living and nonliving organisms function together, influence each other, and impact the world around us.

As humans, we are designed to function best as a whole society, not as individuals. We are connected to a larger body—a web of life with the essence of moving through this world in harmony.

We all have a voice to share, and each person’s voice has incredible worth.

People come to yoga to find a connection with themselves and others

When you go to yoga, there may be a person next to you who aches for connection, to say hello and introduce themselves, to open their hearts in gratitude and friendship. They may be weary to be the first one to speak or concerned they may disturb you. Or perhaps, they are very comfortable in their quiet space.

Don’t be afraid to reach out! Let your voice be heard. Let their voices be heard. Value each person beside you.

Inevitably in life, every person wants to be valued, heard, and understood. You can give that gift of connection, not only to that person but to yourself each time you enter a yoga space. You may be surprised that you need that connection too! This is where the power of community as a yoga teacher and student lies.

As a yoga teacher, I always reach out to individuals to welcome, connect, and help them feel part of a greater community. It is our job as teachers and yoga students to find that deep connection with others— that Namaste.

This is the connection within, the spark that unites us all.

Yoga teachers have a responsibility to help foster a powerful community and meaningful connections

Each student is unique, bringing insights, gifts, and experiences to the yoga community.

Teachers must talk with students. Students must talk with other students. Share your inner voice and make those connections. Talk with each other before and after class. Discover each other’s gifts, interests, and passions. Inquire about personal lives. Find out who people are as an individual. Go deep within and discover what drives them, what is important to them, and who matters to them.

Discover your common interests. You already know you have one in common—yoga.

Teachers have the unique opportunity to foster community by inviting students to connect. Encourage them to share personal experiences, favorite poses, discoveries, challenges, and joys they have experienced on their yoga journey. Making connections builds support systems and second families.

Through these relationships, we create trust, safety, support, and encouragement.

As we connect with others, we value not only the individual but the greater community. When we display compassion and care beyond ourselves, we teach others about service and interconnection.

We must value each other, not just as individuals but as a yoga community.

The connections we make in yoga bind us.

They take our practice to a deeper level. When we build these connections, we are building bridges between individuals, so they no longer feel isolated and alone on an island.

Connecting with others encourages us to look beyond the self and encompass the conglomeration of all connected individuals—the whole archipelago. As we understand the vast beauty of our connections, we can delve into the deep soul of individuals.

Ultimately, we begin to see the true nature of who people are. We connect to the individual spark inside of each person— the spark and essence that binds us all together.

Even though we each come to yoga for different purposes, it is the power of community and commonality that binds us all together in yoga. It is that pure, radiant, inner light within every one of us that connects us.

We all share that same inner light. It truly unites us as one: one being, one body, one community, one purpose, one mind, one heart, one soul— the Namaste.