August: The Opportunity to #Reclaim

This August, our theme at Treehouse Yoga is #Reclaim—and it couldn’t be more timely. We often associate the word “reclaim” with taking something back that was lost or stolen.

But in yoga, we learn that the most essential parts of ourselves—our peace, clarity, and connection—were never truly lost. They’ve simply been buried under the noise of the world, our roles, expectations, and experiences.

Our work is to return. To remember.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes yoga as “citta vritti nirodhah”—the quieting of the fluctuations of the mind. During my own YTT, I never really understood this, with all these conversations happening in my head, I thought to myself, WAIT. Is this not normal??  These arguments, debates, and dialogues seemed like a regular part of being human. My mind was a noisy, nonstop committee meeting—and it never, ever felt quiet.

I remember sitting in meditation (or during that time, I think I considered myself pretending to meditate!) and wondering if I was doing it wrong. How could I quiet the mind when I hadn’t even realized how loud it had become?

But what I eventually learned—and what I continue to learn—is that yoga doesn’t demand silence right away. Instead, it asks us to notice. To witness. To become aware of how much space our thoughts take up, and to create just a little more breathing room between them.

Reclaiming, for me, started there. Not with a grand awakening, but with small moments of clarity—where I could step back from the noise and say, This thought isn’t me. This emotion isn’t all of me. There’s something steadier underneath. I have a part of me that's wiser than this.

It wasn’t about stopping the thoughts.

It was about recognizing that I had a choice about which ones I followed.

That’s what this month’s theme means to me. Reclaiming the ability to discern. Reclaiming my relationship with stillness. Reclaiming the part of me that can observe without getting swept away.

Some days, it happens to you, too, I would think. On the mat—maybe in a forward fold where you finally hear yourself exhale, or in a pause between poses where you feel your feet fully touch the mat.

Other days, maybe it happens while you're doing the dishes or walking outside, or driving (this is me) and suddenly notice I’m here. Present. Grounded. Back with myself.

This is what I hope to hold space for at Treehouse Yoga this month. For all of us to reclaim our own inner knowing—through movement, through rest, through breath, and through the beautiful practice of remembering ourselves home.

On the Mat

Each time we step onto the mat, we are given the chance to reclaim space in our bodies. This isn’t about performing the most advanced version of a pose, but about reclaiming a sense of ownership.

How does my breath move through me today?

What parts of my body have I been ignoring?

We’ll also be paying attention to the subtle shifts—the reclaiming of rhythm, balance, and agency through conscious movement. You may notice your body saying, “I remember this,” even if it’s been a while. That remembering is sacred.

In Everyday Life

Off the mat, reclaiming might mean something different for each of us. Maybe it's reclaiming time for ourselves in the morning. Reclaiming our boundaries. Our joy. Our voice. Or even our dreams—especially the ones we shelved a long time ago because they felt impractical or indulgent.

But I believe reclaiming is also communal. When we see others reclaim their power, it awakens something in us. We start to remember that it’s possible.

So this month, we, your teachers, invite you to reflect (and Teachers Jinky and Markee have already shared some of these in their classes):

• What have I given away, willingly or unknowingly, that I now want to reclaim?

• What parts of me feel most at home when I’m on my mat?

• What do I want to take back—not from anyone else, but for myself?

  
  

Whether it’s five minutes of breath awareness, saying no when you mean it, or simply showing up to practice when you feel wobbly—we’re reclaiming something every time we choose ourselves.

This month, we are bringing back extended meditation in one of our classes, Movement and Meditation, Fridays at 7PM. We will start with gentle yoga poses, restorative and Yin in nature, to prepare ourselves for a long seated, semi-guided meditation (maybe 20 or 30 minutes). Of course, there's an option to lie down, too.

This is our way of holding space for each other as we remember who we are.

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Interested to write for Treehouse Yoga? We'd love to read your stories and musings!

Sharing your insights, both on and off the mat, is a wonderful way to foster connection and remind us that we are not alone in our thoughts. In fact, it helps anchor us in our asanas and enrich our practice.

We will feature up to 5 stories aligned with our monthly theme, due on the 10th and 20th day of the month. Featured articles will be on the Treehouse Insight page and will be available to the public. By-line is optional.

Authors of published posts will be granted two (2) Treehouse Yoga Gratitude Passes as our way of saying thanks for contributing to the community.

Treehouse Yoga Insight Writers

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