Yoga Journey #41

We all start somewhere

I started this blog more than three years ago with, at the time, seven years of Ashtanga yoga at my back and 23 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis. My website domain name is my-ms-ashtangayogajourney.com. Yea I know that’s a long domain name and I’m going to fix it(1). But that long name is exactly what this blog is about; my journey with MS and Ashtanga Yoga.

I hardly ever give advice(2) on this blog because I think it is important to experience the experience. I could tell you if you do it this way or that way and you would get this or that ways result. On my journey I listen to those whom know lots more than I do. At 68 years old I am still learning and I am amazed at how much I don’t know.

So the other day I Zoomed into a panel discussion about person-centred practice. One of my first teachers was on that panel.

There were many different topics but it started with a presentation about what does the word yoga mean. It was an interesting presentation and the discussion that happened afterwards. Different applications of yoga and what it means to each person. It was discussed about on and off the mat and how that is not yoga. Yoga is basically a way of life. How you treat people, your morals, your actions. It’s not on or off the mat, it is life. And you get to that viewpoint if you get to that viewpoint.

But I was laughing to myself because that’s exactly how I started my yoga journey, on the mat. I described yoga as something I do on my mat and nothing else. I started to practice yoga for a specific reason and that was to loose weight and lower my blood sugar. And if that’s all I did for the ten plus years of practicing – then that would have been enough. But if you have read this blog you know that it went much deeper than that.

What I have learned and was taught about yoga did come off the mat. It eventually moved off so to speak and worked it’s way in to my daily life. I have learned about the eight limbs, I’ve read the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, etc. etc. etc. I’m not an academic or philosopher I’m just learning and living the experience.

The calming nature of my asana practice, breathing purposely infiltrated my daily life. I did not gain a conscience I’ve always had one. I just learned to be more calm and considerate in how I apply. I still get angry, upset, unsettled. I am human.

I don’t follow a God or a Guru. I know what a good human is and I try to be one. Some days I succeed, some days I don’t. But most days, I try.

And now, that is what yoga means to me.

Be safe

(1) Now if you enter msay.blog it will redirect to my blog.
(2) I did give advice on taking a shower before practice and I did post advice to Christina Applegate. And I will say that the simple fact that this blog exists is advice on its own.