A Sense of Belonging
“Imagine a multidimensional spider’s web in the early morning covered with dew drops. And every dew drop contains the reflection of all the other dew drops. And, in each reflected dew drop, the reflections of all the other dew drops in that reflection. And so ad infinitum. That is the Buddhist conception of the universe in an image.” -Alan Watts
On December 16th, Kim led a holiday yoga class overlooking the city in the penthouse of Silo Point. “Looking out over the city, we could see lights forever,” Kim said, reminding her of Indra’s Net, the Buddhist concept of the universe. “There are an infinite number of lives in the city and that engenders a sense of belonging. Community is a wide cast net, each of us is a light, and reflected in each of us is the entire net.”
Our slogan at CCY is “Transformative practice, thriving community.” But it’s not only our slogan, it’s our mission to create belonging in the yoga studio. When we step onto our mats, that practice not only benefits ourselves, but also everyone that we encounter.
“In a yoga practice, there’s the guru, the scripture (The Gita, The Upanishads, etc.), and the community.” Kim emphasized the importance of each aspect by comparing this threefold quality to the system of checks and balances in the US government: “These three pieces have always been essential. Each checks the other, keeping a balance in the practice.” The community is an integral part of a practice and can help a yogi keep a level head while exploring the vast world that yoga has to offer.
“Connectedness is a basic need that humans have,” said Kim. “And to have a place that creates consciousness is so soothing.”
Keeping roots in a conscious community like the one at CCY allows us to explore the outside world and enjoy everything it has to offer without getting swept up in it. Staying grounded in the yoga community lets us enjoy the present and appreciate each passing moment without forgetting who we are.
On that night in Silo Point, as the 60 or so yogis and yoginis of CCY sat up from savasana, fireworks burst over the Baltimore skyline.
“Being able to practice in part of the city that has a groundedness in the industrial history of Baltimore,” Kim added. “we were reminded of and inspired by the greatness of the city.”
