Vulnerability in practice

I spent a good chunk of the weekend reading Rachel Naomi Remen’s book Kitchen Table Wisdom, and this was one of my favorite parts:

"At the heart of any real intimacy is a certain vulnerability. It is hard to trust someone with your vulnerability unless you can see in them a matching vulnerability and know that you will not be judged. In some basic way it is our imperfections and even our pain that draws others close to us."

I think this is one reason why yoga is such a powerful way to build community. The old practice next to the young, the experienced next to the new, men next to women, teachers next to students. Everyone is vulnerable, everyone is exposed, there is no judgement.