My friend and I hiked the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico where there is a grove of Aspen trees that span over 200 square miles. We paused for a drink and rest, hearing the continuous rustle of Aspen leaves roar like the rush of the ocean. As we sat quietly among the sway and moan of the trees, we could feel their message - their chorus. Looking above ground, you see one tree, but if you were to dig below the earth, their roots are completely interconnected. The grove of trees shares the same root system making it one of the largest living organisms on earth. Human beings are very similar to this grove of trees. The trees speak to each other, care for each other, bring water and food to each other just as a family would take care of each other. What happens to one tree affects the whole. We, too, rely on our community for food, clean air, comfort when we are sick, kind words of support when we need them and, to share in celebration when times are good. When one tree is sick, all the trees send nutrients to the injured area, just as our bodies sends immune cells to injured areas for healing. Each one of our bodies is like a tree. The inside of our body is a blueprint of all the events that have happened in our lifetime. The scars from a bike crash in second grade and burn marks from a fire leave physical scares. Living through a flood leaves both emotional and physical scars. Just like a drought would show on the rings of a tree, our bodies hold the impressions of our past. Yoga helps to disintegrate those scars with consistent practice over a lifetime. The long held tight patterns begin to let go. You will not heal in one class, but over the course of many practices on your yoga mat, you will begin to creak less and feel stronger and taller from movement of energy up the spine. And, through it all you will have a sangha (community) to help give you support. Thank you for being a part of our Karma “grove”, where all are welcome, and everyone is important.