A Love Letter to Los Angeles

It’s funny—when I tell people I love L.A., I often get a sideways glance. Maybe it’s because I live in Portland, Oregon, where we have a different sensibility, or maybe it’s just common everywhere to bash the place. Like any city, L.A. has its downsides, but the upsides? They blow me away.

I’m a big fan of the ocean, so finding a city that’s brimming with delicious, healthy food, charming boutiques, art, and a wide variety of practices promoting well-being—all alongside stunning beaches—feels like a dream come true. And those waves! Perfect for body surfing. Coming from Oregon, the water temperature alone is a treat.

Last July, I spent my birthday in L.A. As a devoted online student of The Class (an incredible workout) for the past four years, I wanted to take a session in their Santa Monica studio with some of my favorite instructors.

It was such a treat.

Practicing alongside my teachers and fellow students felt like a gift. I wanted to keep looking around the room, soaking in the reality of being surrounded by my community—a community of people I’d never met but who weren’t afraid to make noise, maybe even look foolish, as they sought a deeper understanding of themselves and how to live vibrantly in mind, body, and spirit.

L.A. may not be for everyone—no place is. But it’s a city full of dreamers, heartache, beauty, and resilience.

Today, I took The Class online, from the comfort of my home in Oregon. The studio had opened amidst uncertainty and danger, offering people a space to come together, to release the stress and sorrow of recent days of terror and loss. The instructor, Pixie, led the class with grace and a grounded presence. Witnessing her resilience, vulnerability, and courage—along with that of the students—deeply moved me.

The Class I took today encapsulates what I love about L.A. We moved in ways that might look strange, made sounds that might make others uncomfortable, but we expressed ourselves, shifted energy, and felt the full spectrum of being human—together.

All this to say, this human experience is incredible. It’s awesome beyond measure yet heartbreaking, too. I love L.A. because it’s filled with people chasing dreams, searching for tools and communities to help them navigate this extraordinary journey called life.

“Here’s to the ones who dream. Crazy as they may seem. Here’s to the hearts that ache. Here’s to the mess we make.” (La La Land)

And here’s to finding practices and communities that help us understand, support, and uplift ourselves and one another as we navigate life together.