There are many wonderful and diverse classes at Bernal Yoga. Every teacher has something unique and special to offer and you quickly get the sense that the teachers at Bernal have been very consciously chosen. One consistent theme throughout all the classes, regardless of teacher or level, is the invitation to practice just where we are. Yoga is not a competitive sport, we are not necessarily striving for perfection. Yoga is like a mirror and it allows us to closely look at where we are physically and mentally. That changes day by day. Sometimes we may walk into a class and be at a level we have never been before, other times we may feel like a beginner. But the important thing is to know that regardless, we can be perfectly ok with where we are that day. So if you find one day that your transition from plank to chatarunga to upward facing dog is as sinuous as a bird in flight, wonderful! But remember that it is completely ok if another day you find you can’t hold a push up position if your life depended on it! Just observe and work with what your body is telling you. Time and time again this is what teachers tell us at Bernal. And it allows for a very accepting atmosphere and, many say, it is in acceptance that real growth can happen. Yoga doesn’t solely happen on the mat but everywhere: in the way we are with others, the way we breathe and the way we look at ourselves. Bernal is a safe place to really explore what yoga is and to incorporate it beyond the walls of the studio.