clearing the path

Lately, something different has been stirring in my classes.

Every shared practice space has the potential to become a container for something profound to take place for many — a place where old, stagnant energy rises to the surface, ready to be seen, felt, and released.

This time of year often calls for rest and reflection, a turning inward. But before we can fully settle into that calm, there’s often a need to shake things loose. To move through what’s been lying dormant. It’s like cleaning out a neglected closet— you have to pull everything out before you can decide what to keep and what no longer serves you.

In our asana practice, this looks like twists and dynamic movement, poses that wring out the body and create space. We’re literally and figuratively kicking up what’s been tucked away beneath the surface. Twists are particularly potent for this—compressing, massaging the insides, and then expanding. They remind us that the process of letting go isn’t always tidy. Sometimes it feels messy, raw, and uncomfortable. But that’s the work, isn’t it?

And as we breathe through these moments on the mat, we start to notice how they mirror our lives. The patterns, emotions, and energy we suppress don’t go away—they settle into the corners of our being until we’re ready (or forced) to confront them. The beauty of yoga is that it offers us a space to meet these parts of ourselves with compassion, curiosity, and courage.

In the room lately, I’ve felt the collective energy of this work. The willingness to lean into discomfort. The readiness to shed old stories and make space for something new. It’s not easy, but it’s damn sure worth it.

This practice teaches us that release doesn’t always happen in one grand gesture. In my experience, it’s usually a series of small, intentional movements—each twist, each breath, each moment of stillness adding up to a larger sense of freedom.

So if you’ve been feeling the weight of the unseen or unspoken, know that you’re not alone. Whether it’s on the mat or out in the world, this season is asking us to do the work. To dig deep, to stir the waters, and to let the debris rise so we can clear the way for what’s next.

Together, we move. Together, we breathe. Together, we break free.