I’m a woman of multiple passions and interests, so it can be hard for me to commit. On any given day, my heart knows what it wants—and it needs space to express itself openly and freely. It’s important for me to live in the moment, opening myself to my passions and desires as they arise.

I’m a dancer, artist, mother, creator—and I love my gypsy ways. I won’t be tied down.

Still, when I love, I love deeply and fully.

My heart is unguarded. When it’s time for a rendezvous with my beloved, I’m present, open, and ready. 

Right now, this love is perfect for me—because we want the same things.

I’m in an open relationship—with yoga.

We don’t put demands on each other, no lofty promises for the future. We meet up when the impulse hits.

And when it does, we breathe and sweat and cry and relax together. In those moments, we are one. And those moments are all we have.

As a solo parent raising two teenage girls and working full time, I don’t want someone telling me I have to do a 90-minute class every day. It’s too restrictive.

That’s not to say I don’t miss yoga when we’ve been apart—I have needs like anyone else! On those days of longing, I walk past my mat and pretend I can’t see it.

I’m in love, but sometimes there are too many other things to do.

I’m okay with that. And so is yoga.

We’re committed. We’re secure in each other.

Yoga’s so open it doesn’t mind if I choose dancing over downward dog. If I decide to go for a walk instead, it says ‘hey I’ll be here when you get home.’

It may sound radical, but if Pilates was my jam, yoga would be fine with me spending hours dedicated to all the fine details.

It wouldn’t care one bit; yoga’s not prone to insecurity.

If I desert my mat for a few days, when I come back yoga thinks nothing of it. There’s no nagging, begging, guilt-trip, jealousy, or ‘where have you been?’

If I only have 15 minutes to practice, yoga understands. If I want breath practices one day, restorative the next, and a strong vinyasa flow tomorrow, yoga’s up for anything. It just wants me to be happy.

This is the beauty of my open relationship.

Thank you, yoga. I’m committed to you.

Just not all the time!

Yours,
Carolyn Jyoti