Welcome to the Floor

Hey there,

Last week we sat down. This week, we’re going to fold forward.

Here’s the thing about forward folds that nobody tells you: they’re not about flexibility. They’re about trust. When you fold forward, you’re giving up your ability to see what’s coming. You’re literally bowing toward the unknown. And for most of us, that’s terrifying; even when the unknown is just the floor.

Upavistha Konasana with a forward fold is one of those poses that exposes exactly where you’re holding on. Maybe it’s your hamstrings. Maybe it’s your lower back. Maybe it’s the voice in your head that says “you should be deeper by now.” All of that is information. None of it is a problem.

This week’s classes are about the difference between softening and collapsing. Softening is active; you’re choosing to release tension while staying present. Collapsing is checking out. We’re going for the first one.

A question to sit with this week: Where in your life could you soften instead of push? Where are you gripping something that would work better if you let it breathe?

There’s a reason we practice this on the mat. Because if you can learn to soften into a yoga pose without panicking, you can soften into a hard conversation, a transition, a season that won’t end.

Come practice with us this week. We’ll fold forward together. I promise the floor will catch you.

See you on the floor,

Annie