Island Yoga

There really is a great sense of community in American Samoa. On Sunday most families go to church and then afterwards at home eat food prepared in the umu/ earth oven. The rest of the day is often spent catching up with relatives who live around the island. Families and villagers also look out for each other and provide support in times of need - without question.

I feel very lucky to have great neighbours in our village (who love volleyball), and the little yoga troop, which started at our house, is also going from strength to strength - quite literally. This week we've met twice, and are progressing through a range of poses to build confidence so that we can all continue to practice at home. The sense of community a small group of people can create, when all doing something they find worthwhile and enjoy is uplifting (as another YIOM blogger recently wrote about). I drove back after yoga last night in a state of bliss - totally relaxed whilst all the time dodging street dogs, pot-holes and ambling pickup trucks! Why else do we practice if not to feel so connected that everything melts away?

Practicing yoga at home alone, and then also with a group has made me realise that sometimes it is all too easy to become stranded on our own islands - we isolate ourselves - but really to learn and share, and contribute, we need to be out there building communities, looking out for each other. How great is it that yoga, running, volleyball and all these activities can help with that process?! Even online the blogging community and groups such as YIOM create a sense of community where thoughts can be shared and discussed.

Is your yoga studio or a particular class your community, or do you have other activities, 'things you do' in your life that create the time and space for interacting with others?

Namaste