Field of Grace

August 24, 2015

One of the founding principals of Yoga Mat-ters was "community building". From inception, this theme ran through every Yoga Mat-ters event.

July 2014, on the completion of a year; an email to selected friends,well-wishers with the hopes to ignite inspiration to carry the story over print-media was sent - an edited version gives the essence.

"Some time last year in June 2013, three friends & yoga practitioners spoke about taking the practice of yoga outdoors. Since Bangalore has beautiful parks, gorgeous weather & people; we invited friends who practice yoga to roll our mats out in the open, under a July sky to share a yoga practice. Spontaneous thought gave birth to an initiative called Yoga Mat-ters. With a little planning, on July 7th 2013, Yoga Mat-ters launched it's first event in Cubbon Park - "For the Love of Yoga ".

The response was great & the experience 'different'.

This last year Yoga Mat-ters has seen collaborations with numerous teachers from Bangalore (& outside). For teachers, along with "seva", the space became a chance to showcase unique yet unifying yoga styles & for practitioners a space to practice alongside others. An organic growth trajectory set in course by the guiding principals of community-building through outreach events. Consistently and with integrity bringing the monthly-open-to-all & free yoga practices led to the steady formation of 'community'. It soon became a platform for Bangalore yoga enthusiasts to experience the joys of practicing yoga outdoors under the guidance & grace of generous teachers.

The founding members are operationally involved in creation & execution of events. Remaining 'open' to ideas from the community (instructor or practitioners). Thoughts & suggestions with the ultimate aim to share and thereby spread the joys of yoga, are embraced; irrespective of skills & experience levels. As a philosophy, there is no ownership. It is not aligned to a lineage, a person, a school or studio... a 'style'. The idea is to be ALWAYS inclusive never exclusive. Yoga for all... by all!

On several occasions, there have been crossover between communities - yoga & acro-yoga, yoga & slack-lining. We learn communities thrive when competition gives way to collaborative exchange. In a 'non-threatning' environment there is learning, growth & consciousness-building. In addition, the events oftentimes end with birthday picnics and play... toss a frisbee with new formed friends. Through the initiative, people coming together & Cubbon Park becoming a "field of grace"

A "community" forms!

Drawing inspiration from a James Brown's blog, "Where Community is Found", he articulates similar guiding forces, ones being being manifested at Mat-ters. Each person, with our participation, strive to create that kind of community where we "come together in actual physical spaces" where " mutual affection exists". From here, we begin to extend active participation beyond (off the mat)

July 2015, Yoga Mat-ters completed 2 years with a relatively low key event. Even so, the significance of the 'sangha' remained strong.

What lights the heart; above seeing an initiative take flight & form. One that might not be as obvious as the numbers turning out a YM-in.the.park Sunday edition, is the sense of community amongst contributors - teacher/ guides/ instructore. To witness, a group of people sharing essentially the same knowledge, coming together in 'sangha' is heartfelt. Here too, one experiences "mutual affection"; learns that collaborations break boundaries & opens hearts & minds (perhaps, practicing outdoors helps). There is deep respect - one appreciates that while each of us assimilate and share 'yoga' uniquely, we are linked together by a common motive to give freely. As James expresses, "earnest people getting together with sincere intent to help themselves and each other".

A "community" forms!

(*Sangha is a beautiful word in Pali / Sanskrit meaning 'association', 'assembly' 'company' or 'community'. In Buddhism , the 'sangha' is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism - The Buddha, The Dharma & The Sangha)