Who's the top dog?
When it comes to the participants of this community, one great value is that everyone is treated as an equal. No matter what level you're at or how long you have been participating, your dedication to your practice is what is most important. This however doesn't mean there aren't people who are recognized and acknowledged more than others. In modern yoga, instructors hold a very important place in the community; they are the ones who guide everyone else through their practices with each breath and posture transition. The instructor can determine the mood and pace of the class which can heavily impact one's intention throughout the class. Some instructors are known world-wide and travel place to place organizing retreats and classes while others teach in local studios. Nonetheless, every instructor is valuable to the yoga community as they spread physical well-being and peace of mind to each student. This doesn't necessarily mean that the only way to gain acknowledgment within the yoga community is by being an instructor. With time, dedication, and effort towards one's practice, the results become evident and can serve as an inspiration to surrounding others. There are people within the yoga community who blog pictures and experiences from their practice to help motivate both those who are currently practicing and those who have yet to try. Since the basic values of yoga practice include kindness, self-worth, and positivity, I have personally found it helpful to look at these blogs when I need an extra source of inspiration to continue my practice. Look under the "more" tab for a link to one of my favorite yoga pages!