Yoga Is Compassion This class is centered around a quality that is perhaps the very essence of being a yogi: Compassion. We’ll use the posture Shalabhasana, which is a heart opening backbend, to help you find that compassionate center within yourself. Begin with a moment of loving kindness meditation followed by some physical warm up focused on spinal extension. Follow Kino through a series of backbends that will be a little challenging, but also connect you to the breath and the space around the heart.