There’s something to be said for going to yoga three days in a row. My lovely friend Anna was in town from NYC and said she wanted to go to as much yoga as she could while she was here. So what better place to take her than Bernal!

Each class was special in its own way. Elizabeth Herrick stands out because of what seems to be a deep practice of meditation. It was a chilly and sunny Sunday, and Elizabeth ended class with a deep and guided meditation that prepared us for a peaceful and vibrant day. It also reminded me how much yoga is not just a practice of the body but is actually a practice of the mind. As many teachers will say, our practice does not end on the mat. In fact, it is off the mat where some of the most fundamental practices come. Elizabeth is a very caring teacher, always noticing each and every person in the room and considering where we are and where we are moving towards. She is conscious of every movement and how it has developed over time. And she is keen to remind us to not force, say, chatarunga. Even if we go down a tiny bit, might as well go down in the correct way.

The next day, Anna and I took KT’s class. It was packed, even though she thought people would be celebrating Easter. She reminded us how this is a time of renewal, of change, of shifting and growth, of shedding the old and engaging with the new. Through twists and standing poses, headstands and balances, we were reminded of this chance for renewal, and for change.

Then Monday, Stephanie Bernstein led us through a fast paced, vinyasa driven class where the time seemed to just fly by. There’s something rewarding about taking a class in the evening after work. It’s like a little gift to yourself. And Stephanie suggested time and time again to thank ourselves for being there, for doing this practice and sticking with it.

As for practicing three days in a row (soon to be four), I am all for it. I noticed how much stronger I became in that time, how my tree became more stable, my warrior three more open and my acceptance of things not necessarily shifting, well, more accepting.