Kula

I talked about the word "kula" a couple of weeks ago at a Tuesday class and chatted with a couple of you after a Monday class.  This was before I was asked to start this blog, so here's the reading I did.

Kula is a sanskirt word which means heart or more accurately, "the family of the heart."  In Christina Sell's book, "Yoga from the Inside Out" she talks about how there are many ways to come together... family of origin, circumstance dictates our classmates in school or our socio-economic cultures, but a kula is a family we CHOOSE to participate in, rather than by obiligation.  It is people who support us.  I am quoting the following from the book:

"Each member of the kula might be seen as a thread, that when woven together becomes a tapestry.  Thread alone has very little function.  It can even be lost or broken quite easily.  The value of the thread is found in its functioning together with other threads.  Thread can be used to mend and it can be used to attach things together.  When thread is woven into cloth, the cloth becomes infintely more useful than a handful of single threads.  We have the opportunity to be woven into a beautiful cloth.  As we bring our individual expression and skills to the group, the group becomes stronger and more functional for service.  We, in turn, have function, purpose, strength and stability when bonded in such a way.  This bonding creates a continuity of support even when we are not physically surrounded by (our Kula).  This support becomes an internal sanctuary that backs us up and gives us strength to live in the world."

I want to say here that I have such strong support from my "kula"...  Bev, Sandy, Becky, Marcia, Kim, Amy... all of you hold me up, encourage me, kick me in the butt, laugh with me, cry with me and never judge me.  How lucky I am!!  

As I teach my classes each week, I realize that the people who attend classes on a regular basis are a "kula" who are supported and connected to each other through yoga.  Isn't that fabulous!!! 

I just love this new word that I have discovered... KULA!!  Many thanks to Christina Sell and her book "Yoga from the Inside Out" for this insight.