Core Values: Direction Over Perfection

By Kacee Must, Citizen Yoga Owner + Founder

At Citizen Yoga, our core values aren’t abstract ideals we frame on a wall. They are the living, breathing backbone of why we show up on our mats, in our studios, and in our communities. They shape how we teach, how we lead, how we fix mistakes, and how we continue to grow as individuals and as a collective. Values are the compass that helps us stay oriented toward truth in a culture that often encourages disconnect, speed, and performance.

Personally, core values are not about perfection, they’re about direction. They call us into alignment: with ourselves, with each other, and with a practice that asks us to be awake to what’s real — not what’s convenient. When we take a class or have a conversation or make a decision through the lens of our values, we start moving from a deeper, more intentional center rather than from impulse or ego.

Integrity is a foundational value, and it shows up in the smallest choices — like keeping your word to show up to your mat even when your mood disagrees — and in the bigger, harder moments — like admitting when something needs to change or when you need help. 

Support is at the center of everything we do. It’s the recognition that we were never meant to do life alone. Support means we hold each other up when things are heavy, and we celebrate each other when things are light. It shows up when a teacher offers a steadying adjustment, when a friend brings you to class on a difficult day, or when the community shows up for you simply because you matter. Support is the antidote to isolation.

And then there’s community — the heartbeat of Citizen Yoga. Yoga is not just a path inward; it’s a journey together. Community is where we’re reminded that connection is not optional for human beings. It’s where we learn humility, patience, and belonging. Community is what transforms yoga from an individual pursuit into a shared journey that expands our capacity to feel, to listen, and to grow.

Finally, inclusion is a value that keeps us honest. It asks us to continually examine the spaces we create and the assumptions we hold. Inclusion is not a one-time decision — it’s an ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels seen, welcomed, and respected. It’s the work of widening the circle, again and again.

These values matter because they shape the lived experience of Citizen Yoga. They guide how we teach, how we lead, how we repair, and how we evolve. They remind us that yoga is not simply movement — it is the practice of showing up with awareness, courage, and care.

When you step into a Citizen class, you’re not just stepping onto a mat. You’re entering a community shaped by intention, by shared commitments, and by a collective desire to live with more truth and more heart. Our core values are the thread that holds it all together — and the invitation that keeps calling us forward.

Today’s prompt: 

How did I express my values through my behavior, not just my beliefs, during this yoga challenge?