What's in a name?

First of all, how to pronounce Maitri. This youtube video gives the correct pronounciation, but most of us in the west find the 'u' sound at the start quite tricky, so we end up saying it to rhyme with chai tea, or t'ai chi.

Geoff and I chose the name because we wanted a word connected with yoga and with a meaning that reflected our intention for the studio and all that would happen there.

One of the yoga sutras that appeals to me very directly is 1.33, here translated by Alistair Shearer which I found quoted in Donna Fahri's book Teaching Yoga:

"The mind becomes clear and serene when the qualities of the heart are cultivated: friendliness towards the joyful, compassion towards their suffering, happiness towards the pure, and impartiality towards the impure.

In Buddhism, these virtues are known as the four immeasurables, one of which is metta (the Pali word for maitri). Maitri can be translated as loving kindness, friendliness, compassion, good will, and having an active interest in others. The Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön reminds us in this short video that it is also unconditional friendship with oneself, relaxing into acceptance of ourselves.

People who come to Maitri Studio for the first time often express how warm and friendly the studio is, and feel the good vibes - we hope you do too.