Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear,
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye
clear. What we need is here._
From The Wild Geese, by Wendell Berry
Dearest Friend,
I have dropped my pin on top of a small mountain.
I write to you from this spot, flanked by canyon and vista, held by big West Texas skies.
Benji, free to roam.
This morning: a healthy back and forth of Heartless Bastards’ Erika Wennerstrom and Shane Renfro with his RF Shannon Music.
The shoe fits quite well.
I am sore, but the good kind of sore, settling in for a week of writing, planning, reading, and exploring the gifts that the universe tosses my way.
As always, the weekend brings a graciously mandatory assignment to pause and
No charge.
This week: I re-did a video and I want you to know why.
Allow me to take it back.
Just a bit.
When I found yoga as a discipline and philosophy (not just a warm up option before rehearsal), I was on the cusp of turning 18.
This practice guided me through the threshold into adulthood and it’s fair to say it has influenced my life and the way I choose to show up for my life - ever since.
When I found yoga as a discipline and began to digest its rich philosophy, I made a commitment to be the best version of myself that I could be.
Classes like Yoga Sculpt simply didn’t exist around then.
It could be my perfectionist nature, but I felt deeply called to nail my intention.
Check all the boxes. I wanted to get this thing right.
This concise line became my mantra… long before I shot a YWA video and long before Find What Feels Good. (This mantra birthed, unscripted in our first video.)
Still now, I remember to revive it as I step on the mat.
“Set your intention.”
I choose to be the best version of myself, today.
When I turned 18, I made a commitment to be the best yoga teacher and best version of myself with the grace of each new day. If you don’t believe me, ask any one who knew me then. (I was vocal about it. Still a performer, you know.)
While I continue to evolve and change in contemplation with the world, my practice does too.
And you can bet my teaching style and, now the business, does, as well.
While I would love to re-do many of my videos (and pretty much every role I’ve ever done on stage or screen), I leave it.
In a world of filters and perfect curated edits, I feel it’s more generous to be honest and leave those videos be. Through sickness and in health, bad hair cuts and all. (Let’s not forget the time an accidental f bomb got left in the cut. Ah, the good ol days!)
However, I re-designed a video this week and I want you to know why, because it might inspire you to ask some good questions.
It could inspire you to raise your awareness and see things you maybe didn’t before.
Or, it simply may help you soothe something that has been cramping your style.
In 2014 I released a Yoga For Cramps and PMS video for Women.
In my pink socks I kick this video off with “Hey Ladies” and remark on how this is a special sequence, “just for us go’ils.”
I also make a nice Planes Trains & Automobiles reference in the description, but that is beside the point.
This video is huge, y’all. It has 753,978 views and in the top comment someone suggests I be awarded the Nobel Prize. (Oh, YouTube, how I love ya.)
But, because it really is my wish that this community and this space be one of total inclusion, I want to call a re-do on this one and offer a new practice that respects affirming, neutral gender pronouns. One that reminds anyone watching that I am here to create spaces that feel welcoming and supportive for everyone, and I am fully committed to this.
As I meditate on the importance of being true to the best version of myself, each day, I want to keep asking myself in what ways can I challenge (my) assumptions.
How about you?
As always, I send you my love. I appreciate you. Thank you for sharing your practice with me. Thank you for going with me, for growing with me.
I got your back! This month’s free yoga calendar is going strong. Make the commitment to drop in and EXPLORE this week? Get the details and your free playlist here!
From The Davis Mountains, with love.
Adriene
Thank you for all you do for us and the communities, I love your spirit.
Your free yoga classes have been the best part of me and I feel like I have been growing with you over the years. I have been doing your videos for about 3 years and I rotate the 30 day videos.
Thank you so much and may God bless you each and every day.
I never saw the first video that you mention but as a music teacher a re-do can be golden if given the chance. Times have changed and you have embraced it well. That's what great teachers do! I worked out to the "cramp" video this morning, even though that would be a time in my past, and still felt like I could face the day with focus and intention.
Adriene...
It could've just been the PMS, but I exploded into tears when I read this email in my inbox. I'm genderbendy person with a uterus, and do feel invisible when people do things like address a group I'm part of with "Hey ladies" and other such things. (It's even harder as a person who's fairly femme-presenting, on top of the fact that women's fashion includes many typically masculine elements, so wearing plaid and Blundstones isn't nearly enough anymore to express queerness, haha.)
Inviting us (though it felt like you were inviting *me*) into your loving thought process here felt like the heavens opened up. Your actions TRULY EMBODY ally-ship (there will be a better word for this someday, probably already is) - with your kindness, your humility, your love, your recognition, your allowance, and your celebration.
You've truly provided, in the deepest sense, What Feels Good.
Ok, I'm crying again. Guh.
xo
Right there crying with you.
This definitely feels good.
I have recently discovered Yoga and you have a lot to do with it. Your free yoga classes were recommended to by my bestie and from the moment i saw your first video i knew you & yoga would become a part of my life. Thanks for showing me and a million others how to relax and live again.
I agree with Sharon. I have been doing yoga with you for just over a year and you have changed my and my husband's life. The hip, lower back and knee pains are greatly reduced whenever we do the yoga which we try to do daily. We just saw you on the Today Show and it was like seeing a friend! Congratulations!!! I guess this reply might not be in the right place but just wanted to let you know you mean a lot to us and we think you have a great outlook on life and that came across on the show.
I love you ❤
Adrien, you are the best! In so many aspects!
Thank you so much for your wonderful videos, I started 30 days of yoga at the beginning of lockdown and have done a practice, sometimes on 15 minutes, every day since, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate and enjoy you inspiration.
Take care lovely lady
Hi Adriene,
That is great, inclusion is so important and such a current topic now!
Love, Marloes
Hello, Adriene
Due to my jobs i receive many letters in my inbox, but every sunday waiting a special letter, and i filter my inbox to reach Adriene s letter more quickly, i do not know why, but i just can say there is something different, there is something to calm me, there is something to give me hope, there is something to...........
i told it before and say it again, Adriene s letter should be publish as a book, as an instruction to better life, by title of "Adriene s love Letter".
please take it into consideration.
best regards,
Yay! Couldn't agree with the post and your decision to re-do more. You have this amazing opportunity to create change, sustain kindness, and promote acceptance. I'll be honest, I've done the one for "women" and I felt icky with all the gendered stuff. So I was super pleased to find this letter and I applaud your intention setting!
I recognize that we are all growing and evolving, so I humbly offer another suggestion, in the same spirit and intention you set with this post. I noticed and cringed when you said the word "crazy". For me, that's another trigger, and a word that I try to avoid. I hope in another 5 years, it will be considered just as taboo in order to promote a healing, understanding, and welcoming space for all.
Thanks again for all the growth, reflection, and positivity Adriene, and team. Namaste.
Which is the video with the f bomb? Lol
Am I the only curious one
Adriene,
As the mom of a kid who is gender non-conforming, I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness. And in this case, it's two-fold: leaving your early work (we all grow, life is a process!) and making a decision to change something, and explaining that decision (again, with the growing).
Thank you- xoxox
I cant believe I never knew this page even existed, while i just been youtubing your videos for quite some time and today i decided to google you and BAM, I was so excited! Best yoga videos, and I have seen so many! Thank You Adriane for doing what you do, I APPRECIATE YOU and so does my body:)
Adriene,
Others have mentioned it but I'd just like to state my utmost gratitude and appreciation for altering the language to be more inclusive. As an AFAB trans man who still gets monthly cramps, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!
Thank you for this thoughtful explanation and action, and especially for bringing the fact of gender diversity to the attention of some who may not have got there yet. Gender has always been a spectrum - it's so great to see that awareness spreading.
Thank you for this and for your kind heart.
I was just talking to a friend about how wonderful it would be to have a 30-day yoga series based on the menstrual cycle.
Those of us with reproductive health issues have a difficult time getting to the matt at certain points in the month. It would be so awesome to still be able to show up by to a practice that meets us where we are.
4 years ago this video made me fall in love with your lessons and today it still reaffirms it. thank you for making people like myself feel seen.