Yoga 101 You Are Not Ugly

About This Class

In this brief but potent lecture, Bryan Kest challenges the deeply held beliefs we carry about ourselves — particularly around body image and self-worth — arguing that most of what we think about ourselves was installed by culture rather than arrived at independently. He draws on the vivid thought experiment of growing up on a deserted island to illustrate how external programming shapes our self-perception from childhood onward. Kest then connects this insight directly to yoga philosophy, positioning awareness as the foundational goal of the practice: just as the ancient yogis (called "seers") were revered for their ability to perceive the cultural and mental programs that govern human behavior, modern practitioners are invited to cultivate that same clarity. This class is ideal for anyone seeking to understand the "why" behind yoga beyond the physical, or for those wrestling with self-criticism, negative body image, or a desire for deeper mindfulness.