In my early years as a yoga practitioner, I remember the feeling of the “class” or the “mat” being where yoga happened. It was something that made me feel peaceful and happy. It was something I looked forward to. It was something I missed when I skipped.
I can’t say precisely when yoga became more. It was a gradual and subtle process. It was a gradual and subtle process. Some twenty or so years since I began the practice, yoga has become something I don’t leave home without.
Before an important meeting or presentation at work, it’s alternate nostril breathing, nadi shodhana, to the rescue. When my shoulders are aching from hunching over the computer, it’s some quick desk yoga for me. On road trips, I frequently steal a few moments at gas station stops for asana, the physical poses of yoga. If I am having a difficult interaction with a loved one or co-worker, it is a mindful reminder of ahimsa, the principle of non-violence. These things make my life so much better. They give me something to hang on to when times are tough. They ease the burden of decision-making.
Yoga isn’t just about a workout. It is a lifestyle, a decision to live more mindfully. I am more at peace because of my yoga practice. It is easy to be a good yogini when all is well, but the principles of yoga are most important when all is not. While yoga can help you make improvements in life, it is also a commitment to be in awe of all that you have right at this very moment and to be at peace with things as they are.