Yoga: A Practice of Remembering Union

When I first came to understand the meaning of the word Yoga, I was struck by its simplicity and its depth. Union. To yoke. To bring together. To remember that we are not separate but already woven into something larger than ourselves. For me, it has never been just about the poses or the breathwork—it’s always been about coming home to that place of connection, both within myself and with the world around me. For the horse learning to carry a rider its much the same. Fiinding balance with  weight on your back, staying gentle and connected - moving with kind attention to self and other.

And yet, here we are, living in a time where division seems to be the loudest voice in the room. The color of your skin, the anatomy of your reproductive organs, your age, your politics, where you were born, which schools you attended—all of these things and more get used to build walls between us. The result? Fear. Anxiety. Hatred. Rage. Illusions of separation that poison our communities and, ultimately, our own hearts.

Over many years of guiding others back toward balance, I’ve seen how these poisons wrap themselves around us like tentacles. They choke out joy, clarity, and compassion—unless we pause, reflect, and allow space for transformation. And that’s where Yoga has always held me. It gives me the reminder that union has to start inside.

Starting Where You Are

It has to start with me. With you. With the willingness to soften the inner battle. To notice the judgments and comparisons without feeding them. To move, not for competition or performance, but simply because movement feels good. Because it feels like life flowing again.

Some of my most honest moments of union have happened in the simplest of ways—taking a deep breath and realizing, I’m still here. Moving through a posture and feeling my body whisper, thank you. Sitting in silence and hearing the chaos in my mind slowly lose its grip. These moments don’t make me perfect, but they bring me back to balance. And from balance, I can meet the world differently.

From the Self Outward

The beautiful, almost magical part is that when I return to union within myself, it naturally shifts how I see others. The walls between me and you aren’t so solid anymore. I’m reminded that beneath all the labels and divisions, we share the same breath, the same longing for peace, the same fragile humanity.

This doesn’t mean ignoring the pain or pretending the divisions don’t exist—it means meeting them from a steadier place. From equanimity. From love instead of fear.

A Gentle Invitation

So I’ll leave you with this: What brings you into balance? What helps you return to a sense of union with yourself? Maybe it’s a walk in the woods, a deep breath, a yoga class, a dance in your living room, or a few moments of stillness before the day begins.

Whatever it is, honor it. Begin there. Because when you find harmony within, you ripple that harmony outward. And at a time when division is so easy to fall into, remembering our union may be the most loving—and radical—practice we can offer.