In 2011 I worked as a nanny Monday through Friday, I taught creative arts for children part time, rehearsed and performed as a professional actor in the evenings, and taught yoga six days a week to people ranging from toddlers to seniors. (Not all at once.)
I taught in schools, gyms, studios, art galleries, warehouses, theaters, museums, private homes. I led yoga in a backyard for a birthday, on the lawn of the local independent grocer, and outside at the local cafe, Casa De Luz. Passionate about yoga, and inspired to share it with as many people as would hear me out, I was posting frequent invitations on Facebook, through email, and with homemade posters, for friends to come on out and try a practice.
In March of 2011 I received email correspondence from a friend and indie film collaborator, Chris Sharpe. We had worked with each other on a super fun, fiercely creative, wild ride of a film that never got finished or saw the proper light of apocalyptic day. We were both interested in silent film, both born in September, and both passionate about storytelling. We got along and respected one another since day one of meeting, which was through a virtual audition (ahead of our time) for the aforementioned indie feature, The Spider Babies.
Both eager to achieve and unlock the dream of working and living as full time professional artists, he wrote to me. He included a friendly update on life, as well as a fortuitous (and super secret) proposal for a project.
In September in 2012, Chris and I uploaded this video to a platform I had heard of called YouTube, welcoming whoever would listen to join me for practice. Spoiler alert, not many did. Or at least not right away. But little by little, with a consistent single video offering each week, we delighted in the things we were learning, and the indelible surprise (at least to me) at the eventual growth.
People were tuning in to participate, to connect, to listen, and feel seen.
Heroes.
A home practice is hard. It’s uncomfortable. It is at times excruciatingly personal. You can stop it, call it quits, cheat on your breath, cheat on yourself, anytime, no problem, super easy, just hit it – turn off and move on.
A home practice is private too. But without the expensive trainer or guru looking down on you. It’s strange, it’s weird, and precarious at times.
But it’s also deep, it’s precious, it’s an emptiness that you and only you can choose how to fill. A structure for you to find wholeness. A practice for living your life.
Home practice invites you to unite with what matters most. To celebrate your body, your breath, to not cheat or sell yourself short.
It allows you to ask, “Who am I when no one is watching?”
Your wellbeing is my well being. My well being is your well being.
This is the essence of Yoga With Adriene, a yoga community that was born a decade ago.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Yoga With Adriene we wanted to do something special, something that would mark this moment in time, this YWA era, and inspire us to keep going. I am thrilled and honored to partner with Manduka to create our anniversary collection for the home yoga practice.
Designed and made thoughtfully in tribute to an international community of over 11 million people… and pets. This collection is limited, and intended to live beautifully in your home and your practice space. May you feel the love it was created with and may it support you for a lifetime.
We have a lot of exciting things in the pipeline this week. Be sure to get your September Yoga Calendar! You will see a month long of celebratory practices – including a brand new free practice perfect for a special occasion.
I am wrapping up two weeks of production on your next 30 Day Yoga Journey. That’s right, we are filming early this year to allow for time and space for family and reflection at the end of the year.
I am so grateful for the incredible YWA and FWFG team that I get to work with each day. In a lot of ways, they are my family. And I want to honor them the way they honor me by publicly saying thank you. Thank you for the way you show up to work, the way you believe in the impact of our practices, and for always putting community first.
And thank you dear community, you have and will always be the heart of Yoga With Adriene.
Happy ten years!
Yours,
Adriene
PS: The Manduka With Adriene collection will drop on September 1st!
