My first yoga class was in 1994 at the neighborhood YMCA, and the Iyengar teacher was calling out poses in Sanskrit. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I looked over at the girl next to me and just followed her. While holding poses he chanted phrases from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, in Sanskrit and then in English. At least I understood some of what he was saying now. When we rested in child’s pose he would tell crazy stories of being in India with Mr. Iyengar. Speaking Sanskrit, Yoga Sutras, and go to India– It was all greek to me! Honestly, I thought this guy was a bit coo-coo. Still, I found myself returning to his class again and again. The yoga hook was sinking in, and I was beginning to understand the strange sparkle in ...
While holding chair pose sweat drips from their brow as they patiently wait for me to call out the next pose. Instead, I ask them a question. “Why are we doing this pose anyway?” With a mix of laughter and grunts they look at me as if to say– ”WHAT, you don’t know!”. Questioning why is powerful because it requires that we have a relationship with ourselves, that we get to know what motivates and drives us to do things. That wisdom takes practice, presence and patience– All of which yoga can teach us.
You can sleep walk through your job or even a downward dog, taking commands blindly from your boss or teacher, but that creates robots instead of lively and awake human beings. Wisdom comes from your direct engagement with life and in a practice like yoga that is designed ...
