Sitting Together

While I tend to thrive in the one-on-one environment, there’s something so special about a group movement class. Sometimes, when I get lucky leading a class, there is a swelling of energy, like a wave, that overtakes the group. I think Thich Nhat Hanh explains it best in How to Sit:

When you practice sitting with others, you don’t have to do anything at all. The basic practice is to be there, to follow your breathing, and to experience the joy of being together. Imagine a flock of birds flying in the sky. Every bird has its own position and each bird makes a contribution to the whole formation. They fly so smoothly together. Since each bird is part of this larger formation, they don’t have to make a lot of effort. They benefit from the collective energy and don’t need to work as hard. It’s a pleasure to fly together like that in the sky. When we sit together, we are supported by each other. We each produce our true presence and offer that to each other.

Our greatest strength as humans is in our collective efforts. When we move and breathe together in unison, we are reminded of our essential nature. When We are each an integral part of a web of community, and it is this web that has helped humans to survive against predators and the elements and, over time, develop intellectual, artistic, and scientific contributions that have elevated all of humanity.