I’m attempting to approach this situation as the most evolved, compassionate and elevated version of myself buttttttt it turns out my sense of humor is Neanderthal-like.

Okay…I often pop into this Yoga Sculpt class here in town bc it’s fun, I adore this particular teacher, and it works with my teaching/training schedule.

Normally I am early.

At least 7 minutes.

I need to be in the front of the room so I can stare myself down. Turns out if I’m not able to tunnel my vision, my UNEVOLVED self will become distracted by the folks in the room when shoulders, spines, and knees are out of place or worse yet, in danger.

For this particular class, I screached in 3 minutes before class and was ushered into the center of the 3rd row.

Fine, cool, I’m not a child - I can manage my focus and just relish in the fact that I made it to my mat.

Directly in front of me is a lovely (maybe 22 year old) gal in white BOOOOOOOTAY SHORTS. These are not just short athletic biker shorts, these are Terry cloth, high cut underwear. That’s not the issue. The issue is that I’ve never, in all my years, in all the dance classes, in all the yoga trainings, ever seen this level of hyper flexibility. I know contortionists and can attest they have more body control than what I was witnessing as this lady “stretched out” before a HEATED yoga sculpt class.

If you’re new here, my definition of flexibility is a gross or possibly excessive range of motion that a person may or may not have much control over whereas mobility is having control over a specific range of motion.

This isn’t even the core issue.

In the far end of the same row, there is a very flexible woman who attends regularly and is normally the most flexible lady in the room. I know this because she demonstrates this on her mat prior to class, during and afterward. All good. Live your life sis.

Where it gets interesting is when these two women lock eyes … mind you both basically have their hamstrings wrapped around the backs of their necks in an attempt to ‘just stretch out before class’ of course.

It was the ultimate peacocking of lax ligaments.

Keep in mind I’m dead center between them, watching them like a tennis match in the row in front of me.

I’ve previously never seen an ego fueled flexibility battle but … never say never.

It happened.

Other people next to me were starting to pick up on this pissing match.

It became such an awkward, unwanted display that I knew immediately I had better get crystal clear on how I would spend the next 60 minutes because this was going to be a huge distraction for all the wrong reasons.

Attending these types of classes I know that I am consistently challenged to mind my damn business, focus on my own body, and stay in appreciation for this opportunity. The practice is personal and unique to us all. It affects us and heals us in a myriad of ways. And still, we are all human.

An hour passed rather quickly as the teacher is a delightful spirit, the music was keeping me in my joy, hard work always sheds the mental chatter (which as you can guess was at full tilt) and before I knew it, we were done.

I could feel my obsession, concern, and interest in the BATTLE OF THE BENDY BODIES fading into nothing. It was like a fire slowly going out.

I drove home trying to wrap my head around why this incident imprinted so deeply on me.

Then it hit.

I’ve done this.

I’ve used my flexibility as a showmanship prize and the reason I was so triggered was not only because I saw myself in each of them but because I once injured myself by mindlessly using a similar party trick for laughs.

Beyond that, the lesson my particularly poor decision taught me was to ask myself “Is this wise?”

Is this choice in alignment with my greatest good?

Is this motivated by my ego or by my soul?

Am I ready to honestly answer that question?

If not, then why…?

The ego is noisy, chaotic, and at times clamoring for attention.

The soul whispers and waits for you to know.

Wisdom is hard won for most of us and so obvious once you’ve braved the ego’s storm.

You don’t need to master fancy pretzel like yoga poses.

Experience is always the greatest and most impactful teacher.

OKAYILOVEYOUBYEEE,

xx

Nic.

ps.* Tuesday QUICKIE YOGA. 12-12:30pm pst. $10. A well rounded music based mobility focused yoga flow. This was created as a community class and if you ever need financial assistance to attend - please just reach out or use code NEWFRIEND to try a class for free. Sign up here.

* Saturday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 9-10am, 10:15-11:15am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.

* Sunday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 10:45-11:45am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.

pps. MAY DAY MAY DAY MAY FIT IS ON THE WAY… wow sorry. That made me chuckle and clearly I left it here, so thanks for putting up with me. Remember when May meant talent shows and pizza parties and counting the days until SUMMMMMMER? Yeah. Now it’s field trips, forgotten teacher gifts, burnout and wondering how you became a human Uber with a mortgage.

Let’s reclaim May.
For our bodies. For our brains. For our damn SANITY.

MAY FIT 2025 is 14 days of movement, mindset, and mojo.
🖤 10 virtual strength sessions (short + spicy)
🖤 4 yoga classes (sweaty + still)
🖤 Kickoff party 5/1
🖤 A wild lil' Instagram chat group (we love a hype squad)

We stack habits. We celebrate small wins. We do it all while wearing pajama pants for yoga on Friday’s - If you want of course. There’s never been a better time to invest in your mental, physical and emotional health: Sign Up Here.

ppps. THE LATEST EPISODE OF SHOCK AND YALL IS OUT NOW and I’m speaking with CALVIN CORZINE. He’s a well known Los Angeles based yoga teacher, black belt in Ju Jitsu, the general programs manager for Camp LA, a new father of two under 2 and a consistent seeker of education, growth and expansion. He practices what he preaches and he consistently questions the old paradigm whether in yoga asana (aka shapes) or life in the fast lane of health and wellness. What I appreciate most about Calvin is “you know what you’re getting”… He’s upfront, knowledgeable, clear and concise. It takes an incredible amount of fortitude to build a base of students like he has done and our conversation spans way past the sphere of teaching yoga. Here are a few clips…enjoy, listen and share with your friends…

Share Nicole Sciacca: Sweat + Stillness

OH WAIT. You’re still here … could you, would you, pretty please leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Just click this link, scroll to the bottom to leave your thoughts and “stars” and I’ll send you an energetic HIGH FIVE along with my sincere appreciation.