CHILD'S POSE PEACE: RESTORING MIND AND BODY

Captured this morning, 7/11, in a raw and unpolished hatha yoga studio, Mitchell Royel worked his magic yet again with his infamous selfie clicker. The setting? Gritty, imperfect, and unapologetically real—where the air buzzes with lived-in energy. The soundtrack? "Shooting Stars" and "So Demanding" by Bag Raiders, pulsing in the background with just the right mix of nostalgia and edge to set the tone. It’s a vibe—chaotic yet calm, messy yet mindful.

This morning, I arrived at my yoga mat with a sense of calm anticipation, ready to step into a slow, intentional yoga flow before the day ahead unfolded. My old yearbook rested gently beside me, an unexpected companion. After moving through a steady rhythm of stretches and breathing, I took a pause, opened the yearbook, and found myself lost in the words of a high school friend’s letter scribbled on the back page.

Their words of kindness, humor, and sincerity unlocked a flood of memories from those formative years—years filled with laughter, awkward moments, late-night talks, and even the occasional disagreement. High school brought together so many unique and vibrant personalities. Sure, we didn’t all see eye to eye, but in the end, we made it through together. Those memories are etched in time, a shared chapter in a story still unfolding. Cheers to the future and all the unknown beauty it holds.

"Breathe in, breathe out, still and whole,
Feel the earth beneath your soul.
Stretch the dawn with mindful grace,
Find your center, claim your space.
Each pose, a seed of strength within,
Each moment, a place to begin.
The sun salutes and the moon will bow,
Presence is the only vow.
Heart to sky, roots hold deep,
Awake with the flow, silence will keep.
Slow and steady, one breath, one tone,
Hatha reminds, you're never alone."

-Mitchell