[Jessica]

Thank you for being vulnerable and letting your guard down to ask a difficult question. I have had similar conversations with friends and my yoga fam. As we all dig deeper inside ourselves on our YTT journey, we are blessed with opportunities to learn and grow. Be proud of yourself for recognizing when your boundaries were tested. Never stop seeking to understand. Stay true to what is right for you.

My personal perspective is that humans created words to communicate. Sometimes words can be misinterpreted. Sometimes words have no true meaning behind them (we all know that person who doesn’t say what the mean or mean what they say). Sometimes words can uplift, while other times they cause harm. If you can think of the words as just words, similar as how the movements are simply just movements, you can practice various forms of yoga asanas and mantras without attaching yourself to the traditional meanings. If something doesn’t align with you, refrain from practicing that part. You can detach from the mythological/spiritual meanings and appreciate a cultural story being shared during a yoga practice. 💗

I hope that you find a yoga community that speaks to your soul.