Yoga is Disruption

Yoga is managing disruption. It's putting are bodies in conflict and quietly observing.

In Patanjali's yoga sutras, the second sutra (1.2) is "Yogas citta vritti nirodhah".  This can be translated to, "Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind". Again…managing disruption.

When we first try yoga we struggle. Approaching a challenging pose, we're told how to place the foot, how to hold the head, what to do with the hands, to release the tension in the jaw. We are told to breath. It's all very challenging. We observe others, not ourselves.

Yoga is a practice. The more we practice the better we get at managing the disruption. We start to notice our breath, we move into poses focusing on our bodies; our alignment. We catch ourselves clenching and are able to release.

We continue to practice. We move with our breath assuming the next posture. Alignment happens naturally without tension.  We no longer notice others in the class, for we are entering a state of meditation. We are in the present, we are in our bodies. Focusing inward. We are stronger, more flexible, at peace. Soon we embody our yoga practice in all we do. What we eat, how we communicate, how we think, how we move through the world. Yoga will be with us until our last breath. We handle disruptions with grace.

All we need to do is practice.