Roots Tribe Yoga* consists of – but is not limited to – the following aspects:
*Note: we’ve abbreviated Roots Tribe Yoga in this section as “RTYoga” to identify and distinguish the particular brand of yoga that we teach and practice as a means of International Development
1. Love:
First and foremost, RTYoga works from a place of Love. Every decision, action, word, and thought should come from a place of Love. Of course, it’s a process that we all continue to work on, but since Love is essentially what we are trying to foster and cultivate, we start by being role models and living from a place of Love.
Love is the most powerful force in the Universe!
2. Movement:
Movement is essential to RTYoga. Along with asanas, we explore different kinds of movement including dance, self-expression, and movement games. The important part is to get people into their bodies, leading to personal embodiment. Movement is fundamental to health in myriad ways. So let’s make it fun, and let’s get moving!!
3. Breath Work:
Breath is life! Learning how to breathe properly has enormous benefits to our health on every level, including physical, mental, and emotional. Breathing, or pranayama, is an important part of traditional yoga, and of RTYoga: we spread the practice by incorporating fun breathing games, bringing increased awareness to the breath, exploring how the breath affects our minds—and vice-versa.
“Exhaling twice as long as you inhale signals the “all clear” to your nervous system and decreases your stress response.”
-Toni Bergins
4. Safety/Unity:
We want everyone in RTYoga classes to feel safe. This means creating a ‘container’ for students and RTYoga facilitators to support one another, allowing each other to explore different parts of themselves, and feel at ease with sharing experiences. Creating a feeling of safety within the group leads to a sense of community within the group. This is the first step towards creating a greater sense of community within the Human Tribe as a whole, and reinforces our name and mission, Roots Tribe Yoga.
5. Fun and Games:
RTYoga is FUN. That doesn’t mean that every moment is for laughing or goofing off, but there should be a strong undercurrent of fun and enjoyment. This will make the students look forward to RTYoga, attend classes, and be prepared for the more serious aspects of the practice, such as mindfulness and meditation. Games are a great way to practice yoga and provide a plethora of benefits to the students.
6. Music:
Every person, regardless of culture or experience, can relate to music. RTYoga includes as much music as possible to make the experience more accessible to everyone we teach, across the globe. Whether it comes in the form of playing music during svasana, dancing to music, creating music, using mantras, or simply singing together, we use music as the mortar between the bricks that create a solid entity that is inclusive of all.
“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of our soul.”
-Plato
7. Integrity:
Yoga is a way of life. It consists of a way of living that is devoted to self- improvement and constant practice. RTY aims to create fun classes, but also to create an avenue through which its students can learn to bring the practice of yoga off of their mats and into their daily lives. This is achieved via optional homework assignments, class discussions, group sharing, and Seva challenges, for example. The Yamas and the Niyamas may be useful in exploring integrity and yoga off the mat.
8. Laughter:
Along with movement, laughter is the best medicine of all. We foster laughter so as to maintain the best possible state of mind in which to practice yoga on and off the mat. You are encouraged to research and practice Laughing Yoga: it’s easy and so very fun!
9. Creativity:
Creativity (innovation, problem-solving, out-of-the-box thinking, imagination, originality, individuality, expression, to name a few) is one of the most important skills a person can have. RTYoga greatly values creativity and strongly encourages the cultivation of creative competency through activities of creation such as creative movement, drawing, journaling, and even singing.
“Imagination is the gateway to creating the life you want.”
-Toni Bergins