come as you are

santa monica power yoga. classes every day of the week, at all hours of the day. donation-based. open to mantra-chanting yogis and the entirely inflexible alike. no age limits. no pre-requisites. just you. anyone. the only rules: turn your cell phone off, remove our shoes at the front, deep breathe, and be. be present.

with the intentional freedom characteristic of this place, i know i belong. i can come, as stiff and inelastic as i am, and release. let go. my breathing can be uncoordinated.  my eyes can wander while others' are closed. when the instructor prefaces that you can go into child's position whenever you need a break, i feel absolutely okay staying in that position for as long as i want. for once, i don't have to perform.

and that's exactly what i love about santa monica power yoga...it's real. its intention is uninhibited. unconditional. when i'm there, i feel like i'm being embraced so tightly that i hear the slightest of whispers: forget about everything. this is your time. don't worry about your unfortunate lack of agility. please, just come as you are.