We are born into one tribe and we make for ourselves another. We have it here in our yoga community. It is a tribe that encompasses all kinds of people, some with disabilities, others who face mental health challenges, others who face nothing more than the everday challenge of being human in a difficult world.
Yoga is not and has never been a religion, and this gives us so much freedom. In our tribe there are people who are practising Christians, Sikhs, Muslims. There are also atheists and agnostics. Because yoga espouses the view that all paths lead to unity, we are free to choose our own path to peace and freedom, and to allow others to pursue theirs without judgement.
What we share in our tribe is a yearning for more humanity and compassion in our interactions with the world. We support each other online and in person, through classes, trainings, retreats and communications. I love to hear that students from class, who only know each other through class, have become friends. What better place to meet like-minded souls than in yoga classes real or virtual.
Our tribe extends across continents and it constantly shifts - people become more or less active within the tribe, but they never disappear completely. We cross-pollinate, so that people who practise online meet in person on retreat or in workshops, or students in different countries come to know one another through social media.
The unity of this tribe has come as a wonderful surprise to me. It is a brilliant thing to post a photograph of one of my young special needs students and for them to receive encouragement and pride from other members of the tribe.
When we tell our honest stories and feelings to the world we might be misunderstood or dismissed, but within our tribe someone will thank you for it. There is humour, kindness and acceptance here. It is a place in which to belong.