On 6th December 2019, we launched a brand new ‘bring a friend for free’ campaign in Ealing. In celebration, we thought we’d share a story from one of our regular teachers about the power of practising yoga with friends. Here’s what Chris Carmona, anusara teacher in Ealing, had to say…
One of the foundational ideas of anusara yoga is the idea of a ‘kula’: a Sanskrit word that we interpret as meaning ‘a community of the heart’. This relies on the idea that we are a worldwide community of yogis who share a vision of the world where we look first for the good in each other and the world around us. It’s a way of supporting each other… and of feeling like we belong to something that is bigger than us and that believes in us, even when we have trouble believing in ourselves.
When we belong to the anusara kula, we look off our own mats to the people practising with us and discover something about them, work with them during our practice, maybe even go for a coffee with them afterwards and share a yoga story or two. That’s where great new friendships start.
The best thing about the kula? It means that you can walk into any anusara class anywhere in the world and you’ll be welcomed. People will befriend you, show you where to go and what to do. You’ll hear the same kinds of cues from the teachers that you’d hear from me or any of the other UK anusara teachers. Most of all, you’ll feel like you belong. You have a worldwide network of anusara friends you haven’t met yet.
Belonging to the anusara kula has meant so much to me over the past decade. I have teacher and student friends all over the world. People who live in my heart, if not in my country, who I rejoice in seeing, even if its been several years since the last time. It has also made me dear friends in London and the UK, more like yoga brothers and sisters than friends, my chosen family – my kula.
In fact, next year, the international anusara gathering is coming to the UK. Yogis from all over the world will descend on Bath for five days of yoga, the best hugs ever, and probably a fair few (happy) tears. Talk to me if you are interested.
Trying new things is always better with friends. Bring a friend who’s new to triyoga with you for free to Chris’s class in Ealing and see what he means for yourselves.
Click here to view Chris’s schedule in Ealing.
Click here to find out how to bring a friend to a class in Ealing for free.
