10/19/2025
The Importance of Presence and Community
Community means more than just people showing up — it’s the quiet strength that holds you when life breaks open. Since my ATV accident, I’ve come to understand just how deeply healing it is to have friends and students who are truly present. Not just checking in, but being with — holding space, listening without rushing to fix, showing up with care, consistency, and love.
In trauma or recovery, presence becomes nourishment. It’s the medicine that steadies the mind when the body feels unsteady, the breath that reminds you you’re not alone. Yet being present is one of the hardest things to do. We live in a world that runs on anticipation — alarms, appointments, next steps, next phases — and yet the power of healing rests in the now.
In yoga, we call this Santosha — contentment. The ability to accept what is, to find peace in the moment while still holding space for what’s to come. It’s not about complacency; it’s about balance. In this fall season of Nourishment, we’re reminded that yoga extends far beyond the mat — it lives in our connections, our conversations, and our capacity to truly be here, now.
That’s the beauty of community practice. When we gather for group classes at InnerJasmine, we’re not just moving together — we’re breathing together, supporting one another, and remembering what it means to be present. In community, we rediscover the nourishment that comes from connection — from the subtle rhythm of shared breath to the collective energy that holds each of us through life’s changing seasons.
Each fall, InnerJasmine hosts our annual retreat — a time to pause, reflect, and deepen our understanding of nourishment through the eight limbs of yoga. Though this year’s retreat was postponed following my accident, the memories of last year continue to remind me why this practice and this community matter so much.
On our final night together last year, we gathered around the fire pit — the air cool, the stars bright, the energy quiet and full. Each of us shared what we were ready to release — habits, memories, or moments that no longer served us — connecting our stories to the teachings of the eight limbs. One by one, we let them go into the fire. It was a powerful act of release, reflection, and renewal.
That evening taught me what I’m still practicing now: that healing and nourishment are both personal and shared. That community is not just the people around us, but the web of presence we weave when we choose to show up — for ourselves and for one another.
As I continue my recovery, I’m more grateful than ever for the teachers, students, and friends who have kept our community strong — for the presence you bring into every class, conversation, and breath.
✨ If you’ve been thinking about returning to your mat or joining a group class this fall, this is your invitation to reconnect — with your body, your breath, and your community.
🕉️ InnerJasmine Yoga Studio | The Season of Nourishment
