The Serenity of Yoga: a Path to Peace

Yoga is unity of mind, body, and spirit.  It is a way of life rooted in the history of the human body and story.  It is the unseen, unheard rhythm that keeps the planet rotating on it’s axis; the human body (really every living creature) in motion.  Rooted in the observation of the ebb  and flow of our life on earth and beyond, finding wisdom: in the mannerism of trees, stretching dogs, gates, the preying mantis, etc.; the power of an Anjali mudra, belly breathing, meditation, and respect of others (to include plants, animals, the ethereal).  It is humankind’s opportunity to heal from within, to be still and hear from the Divine, to show up as our best selves mind, body and spirit.  Yoga is the practice my soul must have.  It gives me the power to heal myself and to help others find their power to heal themselves.  It is a gift to humankind to live well, in the present and into the future.  Yoga is a universal language that transcends religion, economic status, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, race, age, religious, and physical capability, biases.  There are no limitations in yoga when practiced with an open mind.  Everyone can find their place on the mat, in a chair, on the carpet, in the forest, on the beach, lying in bed, standing in a line, on a plane…etc.  We just have to be willing to use yoga in our everyday lives, not to limit our experience / our understanding to a mat, a class, a carved out piece of time to engage (and or slip away… which is also a function of yoga).

Yoga is also and will always be the story of a people, a culture (to some a religion) and it’s history.  To be respected and acknowledged for the contribution to the greater human community by the human experience and development of East Indian communities.

Yoga is an opportunity to honor the life and the body we are given each time we open our eyes to a new day.  It respects the individual and the community through practice and exploration.  It is not perfect and requires time, patience, perseverance, discovery, surrender, and the willingness to be still in the moment.  In discomfort we often find growth.  In the stillness we learn we can manage the discomfort and move forward.  Yoga is trusting the process.