A reflection on the subtle but significant impact of presence - or lack thereof - in the yoga classroom, and a call for greater intentionality from both students and teachers.

The ⁣practice of yoga is⁢ frequently enough framed ⁤as what happens *on* the mat - the asanas, the ⁣pranayama,⁣ the meditation. ⁣But a quiet frustration, shared by many yoga teachers,⁢ stems from what happens *before* class even begins. It's the seemingly small act of entering the studio space, and the often-unconscious⁢ way students occupy it. Specifically,the habit of⁢ casually dropping bags,shoes,and jackets wherever there's space,without⁤ consideration for others or the energy of the room.

It seems a sour note to play in a space dedicated to inhabiting our⁤ own bodies more mindfully and moving with intention and compassion. In fact, it's an outward example of doing ⁢the exact opposite. Given that *vinyasa*, in Sanskrit, means "to place with consideration," ⁣it truly seems appropriate that we should follow that guidance as we place our feet - and our ⁤belongings. How different would it⁢ feel if every one of us moved into class, and not just throughout ⁣class, with this level of presence?