After seeing the documentary I learned that Pina was famous for collaborating intensely with her dancers. The troupe created very powerful pieces, replete with eloquent gestures. In one piece, I was so moved by what the arms of a male dancer were saying about love. I literally could feel his joy and his heart opening! In another piece, I found it breathtaking the way a couple repeatedly would embrace, even though another dancer was tearing them apart. It got me musing about the power of attraction and relationships. And all of this was silent- yes there were a few words, but the power was in the gestures. These dancer were so filled with intention that it was as if they were singing soliloquies. I was reminded of one of the most beautiful quotes I've ever heard my teacher John Friend say, "Every limb is a conduit of your energy." So what are you saying with your poses?

The Sanskrit word mudra means "gesture" or "seal." We make mudras often in class (prayer pose is probably the most famous mudra). But if you think about it, every pose is a mudra. Every moment has us in a gesture. The asanas themselves are empty, like a cup, and we fill them up with the fluid of our intention. I hope tomorrow at the Training and next week in my class I get to inspire my students to move from the inside out. Like Pina, collaborate with them so that instead of class being a monologue, it becomes a conversation we are all having with this one playful energy that is dancing us every moment of our lives.