PLS not PSL please and thank you…

It is PLS season my friends.

PLS stands for Potato Leek Soup. A humble, French-as-can-be staple.
Not to be confused with PSL ( Pumpkin Spice Latte ) the loudest seasonal guest at the trend party.

Why does this matter? Because my algorithm keeps serving me PSL content when all I want is PLS.

And that's a problem.

We're not just shown what we like,  we're shown what most people like.
That's what trending means. And like any catchy tune, the more you hear it, the more you start to think you need or like it. Or that it's the “right” way to live.

So how do you stay grounded in what actually matters — when the scroll keeps getting louder and faster?

And what does any of this have to do with Yoga?

Well, here's the thing: everyone wants to do it right. The poses, the teaching, the living.We want the 10/10 version of ourselves. Every time.

You can memorize every cue and alignment principle, but that's not what makes someone come back to your class.What resonates is how you embody what you teach. How well you take what's expected,  share it through your lenses and make people feel seen. 

Same goes for parenting. It's easy to miss the actual kid in front of you because you're too busy trying to copy the top contributor in the group chat.

Trends aren't the enemy. Some are delightful. Some make me LOL.
 

The trouble starts when I stop noticing the line between inspiration and imitation, when I catch myself doing something just because it's everywhere.
That's when it's time to pause.

This is the heart of how I teach. Whether it's yoga asana, childbirth education, or figuring out how to parent in a way that feels honest. I don't believe in one right way.

What I believe in is helping people notice what's real for them… and move from there.

It's not flashy. It's not seasonal.
But PLS gets better the longer it simmers.
That's how I want to live, teach, and parent, too.

PS: Alison Roman came up with the three-letter abbreviation for Potato Leek Soup because she's the absolute best. It inspired this email — and dinner tonight at the Purdon's.

PPS: I like my coffee hot and black, year-round. Not because I'm trying to be special or a coffee shop rebel. It's just what I like.

PPPS: Funny story — when teachers would go to Pune to study with B.K.S. Iyengar, they'd often return with new “rules” for poses and setups. They'd be so excited to share what they learned. But they'd often forget the most important thing: observation is the key to powerful teaching.
The Iyengars taught to what they saw in the room. They weren't on autopilot.
So here's my very niche advice: even if it's trendy to say something — even if you've heard it a thousand times — ask yourself:
Is that what your students need right now?
Is it possible that a specific cue in Triangle Pose was meant for that student in thatmoment… and not gospel?