Minister's Column

It was the beginning of the yoga class, the time when the instructor asks us to settle into position, to close our eyes and to become aware of our breath. “Welcome yourself here as you arrive for this practice,” she said, “and set an intention for yourself today.” I felt the warm guidance of the instructor; I sensed the other people, glimpsed in their boxes on the Zoom screen, breathing and settling. The emotion of the moment brought tears to my eyes.
 
For months during this pandemic, I had not made time for yoga. I had not made time for much other exercise, and I felt the extra pounds my body had gained. As much as my body yearned for the exercise of the yoga practice, my spirit yearned for the serenity and disciplined awareness that yoga offers; and finally, I longed for a sense of belonging with others in a community. A good yoga studio has a sense of community something like that of a religious congregation.
 
People find community in all kinds of ways. I know people who find community in playing bridge; in being on a dragon boat team; in theatre performance groups; in swing dancing. We all have that need for finding our people, for feeling like we are part of something larger than ourselves. We all need a place where we can express ourselves. Many people find that in a Unitarian Universalist congregation or another religious group.
 
The emotion I felt at the beginning of that yoga class was recognizing how much I had missed that practice and those people. I was sad for what I had missed and I was happy that I had found my way back to the mat. “Set an intention for yourself,” the instructor said. My intention is to keep doing yoga:  exercise for my body, a spiritual practice, and participating in a chosen community.
 
PRAYER
Great Spirit, guide me on my path toward wholeness and health.
 
May every one of us find our people, find our communities that welcome us and allow us to express our joy. May we find communities that encourage us in healthy practices for our body, mind, and spirit.
 
Blessed be.
 
Namaste.
 
Rev. Andrew Frantz