Listening Inward
My first Yin Yang yoga class of the new year unfolded on yesterday, Friday 9 January 2026. It was a quiet yet a powerful return.
While I was away in Nepal, I had subbed my classes out to another teacher. Almost a month without my own practice, followed by my mom’s one-year prayers and some much-needed rest, meant my body had truly been in pause mode.
The class was almost full, mostly my regular students, with a few new faces woven in.
Walking into the studio felt like coming home. Some of my students are also close friends and we greeted each other with hugs, smiles and that unspoken understanding that time away doesn’t loosen connection.
The theme of the class was listening:
listening to the body,
listening to the mind,
listening to the heart.
In the days leading up to class, both at home and again in the studio, I practiced the yang flow I had crafted. The sequence revolved around side planks, woven through transitions.
My body definitely had opinions.
After weeks without practice, it felt a little stiff, a little vocal reminding me gently that the body keeps score. A few cracks here and there, but nothing alarming. As I moved through a few rounds, the body slowly responded, warmed up and remembered.
On Friday morning, I woke up bright and early, surprisingly pain-free and ready for my first class of the year.
And it exceeded my expectations.
There was laughter, warmth, effort and presence. The heated studio amplified everything; breath, focus, strength. Those side-plank transitions became a real “pick-me-up flow”, grounding yet energizing.
One moment touched me deeply.
I have a 14-year-old student, Edison. When he saw me, he lit up, loud, joyful, unmistakably happy. He was seated at the back row, smiling wide. I hugged him and in that moment, I was reminded again why I teach. Yoga is connection. Presence. Being seen.
After the Yang practice, we eased into Yin:
seated butterfly
supported hamstring stretch with a strap
a gentle supine twist
and
finally, shavasana.
A soft landing after strength.
Listening again, this time to stillness.
It was a wonderful Friday, put to beautiful use.
A return, not just to teaching, but to myself.
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