What is yoga?

It’s fairly common knowledge that yoga means union. The union of the mind, the body and the soul. But there’s another type of union that is like a happy by-product of yoga, and that is the union of like-minded students and teachers, building a community through the practice.

Here in Ibiza, building a yogic community has not been as easy as you’d think. Our students come from many different countries, cultures and backgrounds. They speak many different languages and due to the seasonal nature of this island, sometimes they’re only in town for very limited periods of time, or their summer work schedules mean they practice more often in winter, or in some cases, vice versa. There’s no such thing as ‘typical’ student at Hot Yoga Ibiza… but that’s all the more reason to connect.

Each and every person who walks through our studio door is welcomed and encouraged to become a part of our community. Sometimes, it just takes a smile in a change room or a nod on the mat to lead to a conversation that may strike up a bond between students. Be brave – introduce yourself to your fellow students. Some are shy, some are outgoing, some speak a different language to you but all are on the same path of learning and discovery together.

It’s scientifically proven that being part of a community is good for us – the positive feelings it creates raises your vibrational frequency and high vibe people are happy people. A shared discussion with your teacher and other students after class – even if it’s just about the torture levels of a Bikram class – can help you feel a part of something bigger. Connecting with new people can also open up a whole lot of other possibilities – whether work, networking, friendship, support groups or even romance! Who knows?

These days, we rarely get to experience genuine human interaction thanks to smart phones and social media, so when we’re face to face with our fellow yogis, we should relish the moment. Instead of checking your phone the minute you enter the change room after class – and yes, we know a lot of you do it while waiting for the shower – why not try and stay in the moment? Those moments when we’re in flow together, those moments when we’re laughing at the struggle of getting into a difficult position, and that magical moment at the end of class, as we are all one in Savasana… carry that union out of the room with you.