JANUARY

Jan 2

BACK TO BASELINE

*What will you return to this New Year?*

The start of a new year often brings opportunities for growth and the chance to lean into new ways of showing up for yourself. Yet, with these aspirations can come the weight of expectations tied to achieving them.

Instead of rushing to add more goals or tasks to your plate in this New Year, what if you paused and considered your baseline? What is the steady foundation you can always return to? This baseline represents the essentials—the core principles of who you are. It’s the current within you that remains constant, no matter the chaos or pressures around you.

I love exploring this idea because it invites me to let go of external expectations and release what isn’t mine to carry. It’s a chance to reconnect with what truly serves me at my core, and will help me navigate life as its comes. It offers a sustainable landing place to me when and if I need it.

James Clear, in Atomic Habits (a must-read!), wrote “We don’t rise to the level of our goals; we sink to the level of our systems.” This mantra has been a guiding force for me countless times. I often think of my baseline as those systems—a foundational, reliable refuge within that can hold all parts of me.

By focusing on your baseline, you create a space for growth that feels grounded and sustainable. Instead of striving to become more, you can return to what’s already within you. I hope in your reflections and dreams in this new beginning, you’ll consider this as a place to see, curate and honor.

Back to basics, back to baseline <3 Happy New Year

— Liv Monte

We asked our teachers, here’s a little bit of what it means to them:

“What if this moment is about your original essence? You’ve shed, you’ve shape-shifted, you’ve discovered. Now is the time to become more aware of your unique contributions & gifts.” — Ali Walker

“Back to basics for me means getting rid of/letting go of habits or practices that don’t align or support my core values. There also becomes a focus on simplicity — what are the key things, systems, people, etc. that I need to thrive.” — Alyssa Dorchak

“Foundational. Less is more. Clearing of clutter and excess.” — Katie Mann

“Going back to basics is such a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself and your foundation. In life, it’s about stripping away the noise, focusing on what truly matters, and finding your grounding again. In yoga, it’s a chance to revisit the essentials—your breath, alignment, and those foundational poses that set the tone for everything else. Embracing the basics reminds us that mastery is built on simplicity, and from there, everything else flows. This year, I’m focusing on ease and simplicity—letting the basics guide me and staying rooted in what’s most important. What would going back to the basics look like in your life, and how might it bring you closer to what truly matters?” — Adri Haden

“Fine tuning things that I already know and am familiar with. Reconnecting with myself. A fresh slate. A reminder to stay a student in life.” — Natasha Steiner

“Asking myself: What I have added into my life that is actually complicating it.” — Hayley Pierzynski

“Peeling away layers of complexity to rediscover what’s at the core. A sort of refocus on what is real and true underneath it all.” — Lauren Camilleri

“Back to the basics, back to the roots, your deeper knowing, also makes me think of being a student or almost adolescent like, like little Linds before she gave a fuck ya know, peeling away the programming.” — Lindsay Stollenwerk

“Back to the 4 agreements-being impeccable with my word, not taking things personally, not making assumptions, and doing my best. Coming back to what feels real to me and creating more than consuming.” — Skylar Dixon

“Back to basics is turning inward. What do I really need rn? What feels like ease? No pressure.” — Rachel Johnson

“Core, fundamentals, foundational, minimal, raw, solid, and vanilla ice cream for some reason.” — Ella Davilla