“Practice, Practice, Practice……..

and all is coming. ” This is a much cited quote from Sri Pattabhi Jois that has deep resonance for me. I started Yoga simply because it was offered at my gym and I was looking for a group exercise class to replace aerobics while my knee was on ice. Knowledge of the Practice quote , Sri Pattahbhi Jois and all things Yoga came later, as of course Jois predicted. What started as a pursuit of enhanced phsyical fitness became the pursuit of uncovering the spiritual heart .

Physical practice was easy. Naturally athletic and flexible it was easy for me to love the poses. Other elements of the Yoga practice such as breathing and sitting in silence were difficult if not painful . Slow exercises in non judgement self reflection were very new and disquieting to me. Lured by my adeptness in poses I conceded to the other components in class and before I knew what was happening, I was practicing, practicing, practicing….. and things started happening…..all was coming.

From my first Yoga Breath I began to move closer to my authentic self and my life began to improve. I learned to relax, to control my mind fluctuations ( or at least I learned to laugh when my mind diverted me from controling my fluctuations), to be less snippy, to be more helpful, to be more open. To share. To be part of something bigger than me. All was coming. The practice of the physical was my key into the world of Yoga. A huge universe of philosophy, physics, mystics, sages, subtle body, ayurvedic, amazing teachers, places and possibilitys My practice moved from something I did on a mat to something I did in life. From my Yoga practice sprang romance, home, job, community. Gratitude.

Sri Pattahbi Jois describes that the spiritual heart is surrounded by 6 poisons: desire,anger, delusion, greed, envy & sloth. Internal purification comes from posture, breathing and gaze and of course practice, practice practice…

All continues to come.