How to sustain a yogic mindset amidst the drama and challenges of life? Practice.

One of the more well-known sutras in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describes the need to live your yoga with such commitment that it becomes completely established in you. Towards the end of our program we discussed at length the importance of maintaining our daily Sadhana – our practices. Our amazing teachers did not mince words – to teach yoga from a place of authenticity and skill, we need to live our Yoga. Learn to prioritize our inner world over the external world.

A tall order in this busy life.

I find I most always want to say “yes” when there is an invitation to go deeper or rise to a challenge. I am learning to lovingly push myself when my own ego or laziness becomes an obstacle. We are taught here that the peaceful and loving yogic presence needs to be powered by a warrior spirit, a deep inner strength. This resonates with me a lot.

And I am also learning to discern when something isn’t for me. Anandji reminds us often to not look to our right or our left, but to stay on our own path. Every obstacle in our unique path is an opportunity to learn and evolve. I can’t hear this enough. 

Seek out your yoga - your truth, your way of being - rather than clinging to someone else’s ideals or attaching to one particular way of thought.

Stories help weave a society together by providing a moral compass through teachings that reach a wide audience. They are magical in their ability to not be restrained in dogma, rules, and laws. Instead, they are creative, entertaining, relatable, and are a reminder to avoid polarity of thinking.