Dr. Alyssa Gatto is a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University. We discuss how we are trying to do academia differently. We share our perspectives as two first generation college students and yoga teachers: How we want to live our yoga off the mat. Dr. Gatto specifically suggests opportunities for authentic connection as a change for academia. And, how to let transitions between papers, grants, huge academic mile markers be gentle instead of jolting into the next thing. How did we get here? Tripping, falling, and leaping. Enjoy!