WHEN HOT VINYASA FADES INTO ARCADE LIGHTS AND LOVE BECOMES A MIRAGE
DRIFTING THROUGH SMOKY NIGHTS AND THE POEMS LEFT SCATTERED IN THEIR WAKE
Captured in New York City by Mitchell Royel — where the streets never sleep, and the pulse of the city feels electric. Hot yoga studios here hit different, sweat becomes your second skin, and the grind doesn’t end—it transforms. We’re vibing hard to "Deal With It (feat. Kelis)" by Ashnikko, her voice slicing through like a blade—raw, unapologetic, and untamed like the city itself.
When we first come to yoga, it’s often because we feel a calling—a pull toward something deeper, something more meaningful. For me, yoga was a revelation, a profound awakening to the truth of who we are and what we are capable of becoming. It wasn’t just a set of physical movements or a trendy lifestyle choice; it was a sacred discipline, a way of living that merged body, mind, and spirit in complete harmony. Yoga was a path of self-discovery, guided by the eight limbs—tools not only for the individual’s liberation but also for fostering a connection with the divine and the world around us.
But in the whirlwind of modern obsession with trends and spectacle, yoga’s essence has been diluted, commercialized, and lost in translation. The ashrams and sacred spaces where yoga’s wisdom was nurtured have been replaced by sleek studios and online platforms touting mere fragments of a holistic practice. It’s painful to watch how the richness of this tradition has been stripped down, rebranded, and repurposed, leaving out its heart and soul.
The rise of the new-age adaptation of yoga mirrored a shift that many of us could not help but notice. Elitist circles—many led by privileged women from the West, predominantly white females—have repositioned yoga as a commodity rather than a practice of selfless devotion. This cultural distortion has turned yoga into a status symbol rather than a bridge for inclusivity and inner transformation. Worse yet, in their rush to curate an image of social consciousness, marginalized individuals have been reduced to tokens in the pursuit of diversity optics. We see this in yoga's accessibility—or lack thereof. Classes are priced exorbitantly, studios are often unwelcoming to those who don’t fit specific beauty standards, and the deeper philosophical roots of yoga remain ignored or misunderstood.
We, as a community—sisters, brothers, all of us—must take a hard look at where we’ve gone astray and join together to mend this sacred thread before it frays beyond recognition. Yoga is not about perfection, competition, or belonging to a specific social tier. It’s about remembering who we are at our core, an ancient practice for everyone—regardless of race, social standing, or economic power.
To bring yoga back to its roots, we must be brave enough to strip away the glossy veneer and return to its foundational teachings. We must re-embrace the true depth of the eight limbs—starting with the yamas and niyamas, the ethical and personal disciplines that guide us to live with integrity and kindness. Beyond the physical poses (asana), we must practice pranayama to unify our breath and life force. We must meditate (dhyana), seeking the stillness within, and aspire to reach samadhi—the state of spiritual enlightenment that binds us to the universal consciousness and ultimate truth.
Sisters, we cannot sit idly by while our sacred practice, this gift of unity, is appropriated and exploited. We have to support one another, uplift marginalized voices, and champion inclusivity within the yoga community. We need to create spaces that honor and celebrate the fullness of yoga's traditions, not just the parts that are marketable or palatable to modern tastes.
The path back to the heart of yoga begins with humility, respect, and devotion. Together, we can restore yoga to what it was always meant to be—a mirror for self-realization, a balm for the human spirit, and a practice that connects us all. This is our mission and our calling. Now, it’s time to act.
-Mitch, Ryder, GG Collective
Epilogue: When we first meet ourselves on the mat—eyes closing, heart softening, breath steadying—it’s often because we’ve been drawn there by something unseen. Maybe it was longing. Maybe it was heartbreak, mascara-streaked cheeks meeting the floor. Or maybe it was the sheer weight of living that finally brought us to a place where silence could hold us. Yoga, for so many of us, wasn’t just a trending activity or a passing phase; it was salvation. It peeled back the layers of our defenses, made the pain unavoidable, and then offered a way to hold it gently.
And yet, what happens when that sanctity is eroded by noise? When something as pure as yoga becomes another cog in the wheel of profit and classism, dressed up as glossy advertisements of perfection and elitism? We watch its essence fade—a slow undoing of its soul, and what once felt like holiness in motion becomes almost unrecognizable.
But here's the truth I’ve clung to, through all the grief and anger of seeing this distortion unfold: peace isn’t gone. It’s resting, waiting for us to return with reverence. To cry the tears that wash away our illusions. To pick up the broken pieces—not to rebuild what was, but to reimagine what could be. We can hold the anger, acknowledge the harm, and still look toward a horizon of healing. It starts in the quiet moments—on the mat, in our service to others, in our unwavering commitment to living the teachings instead of just echoing them.
Yoga is still here. Its roots are deep. And as we relearn what we’ve lost, we come back to a truth that was always waiting for us, standing steady like a mountain in the storm. Sacredness cannot be destroyed—it can only be forgotten. And forgetting, though it wounds, is not the end. It’s an invitation to remember again and again. And we will.
Clothe Yourself in Armor – "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11)
Guard Your Heart – "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)
Stand Firm in Faith – "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
Pray Without Ceasing – "Pray continually." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Renew Your Mind – "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
Resist the Enemy – "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Seek Peace – "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)
Speak Truth in Love – "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)
Trust in the Lord – "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)
Be Steadfast in Hope – "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31)
Live as Light – "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14)
Take Every Thought Captive – "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Forgive Others – "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Watch and Pray – "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (Matthew 26:41)
Hide God’s Word in Your Heart – "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)
Rely on God’s Strength – "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me." (Psalm 28:7)
Be Quick to Listen – "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19)
Stand in the Gap – "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land." (Ezekiel 22:30)
Fear Not – "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Practice Gratitude – "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Seek God First – "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
Speak Life – "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)
Be a Vessel of Honor – "Those who cleanse themselves will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master." (2 Timothy 2:21)
Be Joyful Always – "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Study the Word – "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed." (2 Timothy 2:15)
Carry One Another's Burdens – "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Have Faith Like a Mustard Seed – "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed... Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
Be Salt of the Earth – "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" (Matthew 5:13)
Be Doers of the Word – "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)
Rest in Him – "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
These scripture-inspired truths serve as reminders and tools to guide us through spiritual challenges, strengthening us to walk in faith and persevere with courage.