The quiet magic of community
- Renae Molden
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the community that’s naturally formed around my Kaiut Yoga classes. It wasn’t something I intentionally set out to create. It just developed on its own. One of the first things I noticed was how each class attracts people of all ages. Truly, all ages. From the very young to the very old. That kind of diversity is uncommon. You don’t usually see it, especially in a learning environment. But from the beginning, it just felt right.
I’ve been teaching for over seven years now, and just before class recently, I overheard a brief conversation between a man in his 30s and a woman in her 60s. In about five minutes, they discussed the challenges that come with raising kids, managing relationships with parents, and even daily struggles. They don’t know each other well, but there they were talking about real life. What struck me was how natural it felt. Both have been attending class for a while, and even though they’re in very different stages of life, they share something deeper. They each have a willingness to be honest about where they are, what hurts, and what they’re trying to understand about themselves. It makes sense they’d connect over that. That’s community.
And lately, I’ve also been thinking about how this same sense of connection shows up in unexpected places, like in the music and performances that move us. I’ve been completely captivated by Wicked. Yes, the movie. I’ve been obsessed for a whole year now, and I don’t care who knows it. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande share something really special. You can feel it when they sing together: their voices, their energy, their trust in each other. It’s the same kind of connection that reminds me why community matters so much, when people come together, listen, and create something greater than themselves.
If you saw their duet on NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night, you know what I mean. They performed “Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy,” the same song Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland sang together back in 1963. I wasn’t even born then, but this version stopped me in my tracks. The way they each bring their own style, yet find that flow together. It’s the same quiet magic I see when people come together on the mat.
This week, I’m feeling especially grateful. For this sweet, growing community, for the courage you all bring into the room, and for the small moments of honesty and connection that keep showing up. In movement, in conversation, and in each other.
Check out the videos of the two versions of this duet. One performed by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland, and the other by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The full version of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s version is on Peacock. The full version of this song is at the end of Wicked: One Wonderful Night.
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