Come As You Are, Not As You Should Be: Lululemon And Baptiste Yoga SF!
Last week, I received an invitation from lululemon and Baptiste Yoga San Francisco that said, “Come As You Are, Not As You Should Be.” Relief swept over me as I realized I wouldn’t have to show up and try to be perfect.
I could practice yoga uninterrupted by any insecurities or self-defeating thoughts. After this short reflection, I immediately felt relaxed and open to this experience because of my love of self-acceptance. I spend a great deal of time and energy working on building up my personal value, which has no ties to society’s illusive perception of worth. In spite of all this great work that I do, it is exactly what I just called it: work.
I was particularly exhausted on the evening of the event. My ego was extra chatty that day, so I was sick of hearing it talk. I felt the wear and tear of a hectic day and my Mary Poppins sized bag and yoga mat were also weighing me down. Things remarkably changed once I arrived. I remembered the invitation’s suggestion and I decided to leave it all at the door (minus my bag) and I felt pounds lighter.
Once I entered the room and got a sense of the inviting space, I was warmly greeted by one of the owners of the studio, Jen Silvera and the lululemon team. I was guided toward the studio where beautiful lululemon black mats laid, which we were generously allowed to keep. All of a sudden, I didn’t care that I had to carry two mats home. I also received a copy of Baron Baptiste’s new book: “Perfectly Imperfect”. It’s already a book that I am sure to value for years to come as a student of life and a teacher of yoga.
Jen Silvera and her husband Sean Silvera led practice. Some couples manage to finish each other’s sentences; this couple manages to finish each other’s sequencing. I was majorly impressed. It was really interesting to see them play off of each other’s energy and to have two different styles of teaching simultaneously influencing my practice. It was most definitely a unique experience. They shared many uplifting and inspiring thoughts, but one thing that remained with me was the sense of community that they were creating within the space and practice.
Sean led us through an ungodly number of urdvha dhanurasanas (wheel) and I was pretty much spent. The hot and challenging flow kicked my butt. We all thought we were done and then Jen decided we had one more in us. I rolled my eyes pretty hard, but I then searched within, got into wheel one last time and admitted to myself that she was right. I had a little more tapas in me than I thought and Jen helped me unleash it. I understood that they were there to guide us into self-empowerment. I truly felt physically stronger and spiritually supple after my practice. When svasana finally arrived, I felt ready for it. In svasana, the stress of the day dissipated. I felt perfectly imperfect on my mat.
After practice, we were treated to some delicious food and drinks. It did in fact feel like a community as I chatted with new friends from lululemon, Baptiste Yoga and other like-minded individuals. Their studio makes significant efforts in giving back to many communities both near and far. It’s as if they’re weaving a quilt and bringing us all together, one yoga mat at a time.
In his book, Baron Baptiste says, “In true north alignment, you access your innate wisdom to know when to dig deeper and ask more of yourself, or when to practice the art of “let it be”. That evening, I left the studio with a feeling of alignment with my true north.
To learn more about Baron Baptiste, you can visit his website: www.baronbaptiste.com.
If you want to check out Babtiste Yoga SF, you can visit their website www.baptisteyogasf.com or visit their studio at 38 Mesa Street in San Francisco. @baptisteygoaSF
To learn about more about lululemon, visit their website www.lululemon.com at or visit their SF location at 845 Market Street in SF. @lululemonSF
And to learn more about the Author Kelly Finnegan, you can visit her website www.korebykelly.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
