When I take inventory of some of my closest friends in my life, it’s amazing what a significant portion came from the yoga world. It makes sense, because there’s often a unique vibration among yogis, one that’s focused on taking care of oneself, as well as showing respect for others and for the planet.
Taking a yoga class could unexpectedly lead to some deep friendships. As seen in the yoga testimonials on my site, many of my students have become close friends with each other, something that brings me joy as an Alexandria, VA, yoga teacher!
If you want to enhance your yoga practice by making a like-minded friend (or a few), as well, here are five suggestions for how to foster friendship through yoga.
1. Say Hi to the Person Next to You
I have yoga teachers who will actually cue students to say hi to their neighbors at the start of class. This is such a simple thing to do, but as an introvert, I know that even saying hello to a person you don’t know can cause some trepidation.
Here are some perfectly reasonable ways to start a conversation with a stranger who seems interesting in a yoga class.
- Have you taken this class before? What do you like about it?
- I like your yoga mat/shirt/pants, etc. Where’d you get [object]?
- Have you ever tried [insert yoga pose here]? It’s my favorite/I’m working on it/I need some tips, etc.
You can also do a classic, “Hi, I’m [name]. What’s your name?” introduction. The person next to you may be wanting to say hi in their head, and your icebreaker may lead to more meaningful conversation by speaking up.
2. Introduce Yourself to Your Teacher
I have both become friends with my teachers as a student and become friends with my students as a teacher. As I’ve written about in how to prepare for your first yoga class, it’s really helpful for me as a teacher when my students introduce themselves. If I haven’t asked them already, this is a way to learn the student’s name and learn something about their yoga practice.
For me as a student, I assume that I have something in common with my teacher, even if it’s just an interest in yoga. That makes it easy for me to introduce myself to the teacher, and to thank them for class and offer an example of something I liked about it. This can lead to deeper conversations about yoga over time, which may also lead to a personal connection that could evolve into friendship.
One of my close friends was my yoga student who came up to me after class and talked to me about her yoga experiences. It turned out we had a ton in common, from a love of travel to a passion for animal welfare. We ended up hanging out outside of class, and I cherish her friendship now.
As a student, I’m never hesitant to strike up a conversation with my yoga teacher. I assume yoga teachers, like me, take it as part of their job that students might approach them. Talking with a teacher (or with your students, if you’re a yoga teacher) is a natural way to get to know others in your class.
3. Take a Yoga Teacher Training
Another environment I’ve made deep personal connections in is during yoga teacher training. This is something I hear about from anyone who’s taken a yoga teacher training (YTT), that the bonds can be quite magical.
As someone who loved school, a yoga teacher training puts you back in a classroom environment where it’s natural to strike up conversations with classmates. I witnessed strong friendships form in my YTT, and I made one of my closest friends myself in my class.
I also count my YTT instructor as a close friend and continued role model. We continue to meet for friendship dates where we talk about many more topics than yoga. I’m grateful for friendships that span different life experiences, that have formed due to participating in YTT.
Even if you don’t become a yoga teacher, a yoga teacher training can give you a better understanding of yoga practice that helps you progress as a yoga student. It also introduces you to like-minded people who, if you’re like me, you’ll have a ton of things in common with. Yoga is such a mental health-focused practice, that I think it’s a great way to find people you really resonate with compared to other organizations (like, say, an adult sports league or acting class).
4. Connect Online
Yoga continues to expand its presence online, and this gives yogis more opportunities to connect in the digital world, too. Some ways to make a friend with a yogi online include:
- If you take live online yoga classes, like the recreation centers I teach at offer, show your practice on video and wave hello to others in your class. You can type a personal message to another participant or at least look for ways to connect with your teacher.
- Look for local yoga teachers, studios and meetup events on social media sites, like Instagram (you can connect with me here!) Comment on photos and participate in discussions to connect with local teachers and yogis. Attend meetups promoted online, or create your own, and invite social media users to them.
- Leave comments on videos and in forums. If you follow a national yoga teacher, like Yoga With Adriene, you can leave a comment on videos that you’re a yogi in [city] looking to meet other yogis, and add your social media handle.
For some introverts, like me, sending a digital message can be much easier than saying hello in person. Online channels and methods like those above make it easy to start a conversation online, then connect in a real-life yoga setting.
5. Attend a Yoga Meetup
Finally, there are yoga meetups dedicated to giving students an opportunity to make friends. Search sites like Eventbrite or Meetup to find events where yoga students are going with the intent of meeting others. Participants in meetup events are typically open to conversations with strangers and may even be attending with the goal of making new friends.
If you don’t find an event in your area that interests you, you can create your own! You can promote your event on a local site like Nextdoor, so you’re targeting people in your area who might even be your neighbor. Meet at a local space like a park, or book a teacher to host a group yoga meetup in Alexandria or wherever you are, or online for your group.
Have You Made a Friend Through Yoga?
I’m grateful every day for my friends who are fellow yogis and for the friends I have met because of my yoga practice. Chances are good if you say hi to a fellow yogi, you’ll have something in common. Yoga is such a great shared interest to begin with, that your yoga practice can lead to even more interesting conversations that could result in a beautiful friendship!
Have you made a friend through yoga? I’d love to hear your experience! Please leave a comment and let me know.
Is there a topic you’d like me to write about on this yoga in Alexandria blog? Message me.
About the author: Nicki Escudero is a journalist and RYT-200 yoga instructor certified by Yoga Alliance. She teaches group and private yoga classes in Alexandria, VA, and Washington, DC. Contact Nicki.
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