One Candle

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I attended a fund raiser for the Hamilton Co. Humane Society. The HSHC is unique in that they don't euthanize animals except in extraordinary circumstances, and they will keep animals as long as it takes to find them a home. During the fundraiser they showed a slide show of several of the "difficult case" adoptions that had happened over the past year: abuse cases, severe injuries, cases that would have condemned animals at many other shelters to an unhappy end. At the end of the slide show they brought out the featured animals with their new families. One of the dogs they featured was Nico, a Dogo Argentino which was discovered in a shelter in LA. He was in pretty bad shape, and would probably not make it out alive. A woman from a local rescue group took a photo of Nico (see above) which she posted on Facebook. The photo was seen by another woman who arranges animal rescue transports, who was able to raise the funds and manpower to transport Nico across the country to the HSHC. From there he began working with a local trainer who is fostering him and helping to socialize him. Nico is well on his way to finding his "forever home." (click here for Nico's full saga)

Gandhi said to "be the change you wish to see in the world." "One candle can light a thousand others" is a quote that has been attributed to the Buddha, but is also used in many other traditions in one form or another. Both of these ideas have at their core the notion that one person can be the catalyst to elicit change. They are calls to action, but they also require commitment, direction and intention.

On a physical level we cultivate this quality by giving our breath intention and direction through the use of pranayama, then the body receives intention and direction through our asana practice. When we practice Ujjai Pranayama (Victorious Breath) we direct the breath along the back of the throat and the soft palette to produce a breath that is both strong and controlled. When we hone our awareness to how our breath is behaving (too harsh? too labored? too lethargic?) we can then begin to adjust our energy levels by adjusting the power of our breath. So, our Ujjai Pranayama practice then becomes a thermostat that we can use to apply more energy when needed, or to calm ourselves when we begin to move into an aggressive state of mind in our practice.

In our asana practice we begin with a series of simple movements to begin to warm and lubricate the major muscles and joints. As we begin to refine the simple movements into more complex patterns and combinations we begin to create strength where there is dullness and opening where there is resistance. This is why we generally begin classes with some form of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), rather than beginning with Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose): our bodies need time to awaken, and need to be led mindfully toward the goal we wish to achieve. In that way we begin to coax forth our inherent strength and grace.

We all have qualites or traits that we'd like to cultivate or develop. We reflect on situations where we wish we'd have behaved differently. What our yoga practice provides us with is the opportunity to begin cultivating those qualites or traits, to begin to focus on changing our behavior. When we practice, we can bring these qualties or situations to mind, and let our attention to them provide the focal point for our practice. Can we practice in a way that is generous of spirit? Can we bring a quality of gratitude to our practice? Can we begin to change the way we treat others by first practicing treating ourselves in that manner? When we practice in this way, our intentions become ingrained in our psyche, and these intentions become part of our very make-up.Our intentions begin to provide direction for our lives, and our actions begin to reflect the qualities we practice in our minds. Our practice becomes habit, then becomes our state of being.

I am guilty of seeing problems or situations where I think "Someone should do something about that!" The thought may even cross my mind that I should be the person to do it, but then the situation looks too large for just me. In frustration I don't even begin. What I forget is that all I have to do is rely on my intention to act with grace and compassion. This provides me with the direction I need to take the action necessary. In so doing, I create the possibility for a chain reaction to occur so that the solution is presented. My part may have been small, but the result could be enormous or life changing.

There is a story of a man walking along the beach with his granddaughter. They come upon thousands of starfish washed up on the beach from a recent storm. The granddaughter starts running around picking up the starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. "Why even bother?" asks the grandfather. "There are so many, you''ll never save them all!" The granddughter throws another starfish into the ocean and says, "Well, I saved THAT one!"

Have a happy, healthy holiday season!

I try to spend a little time every week reading through some of the books I have on yoga, or reading Yoga Journal, or even reading through material that may not be directly related to yoga, but is still inspirational. I thought this month I'd share a few of my favorite quotes and/or books.

"Yoga is not about self-improvement, it's about self-acceptance."
~Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, The Eight Human Talents

A friend of mine bought me Gurmukh's book as a going away present from a job I held. She knew I had recently started practicing yoga, and, as she put it, "the cover looked funny." Little did she know that this was to become one of my favorite books on the subject. Gurmukh has a very down-to-earth way of explaining concepts that can be complex or esoteric. For me, this is the hallmark of a great teacher. Here's another gem, which speaks directly to what drew me to yoga practice in the first place:
"I have often said to the students that hat we do in class is the 'practice' of yoga; life is the real yoga. In class we are practicing techniques, metaphorical life lessons on a physical level that we can then apply to our larger lives in the world."

Picking up on that idea, here is a recent favorite from Sharon Gannon, who is the co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga Center with her husband, David Life:
“You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.”

This reminds me of the capacity we all have to get in our own way, whether it’s physically in class, emotionally in a relationship, spiritually in how we are in the world - the list goes on and on. Through the physical practice of yoga, if we are paying attention, we begin to discover where we encounter resistance, either in our bodies or our minds, and we begin to notice what our tendencies are once we encounter that resistance. Do we force our way through aggressively? Do we give up in frustration? Or do we seek a middle path where we continue to put forth the effort, but try not to get attached to the results?

Cyndi Lee, director of OM Yoga Center, along with the teachers at her school, have provided me with so much inspiration in my practice and my life. In Cyndi’s book, Yoga Body, Buddha Mind, she says,
“Waking up to every single breath, every single moment, is the challenge of this flowing form of yoga. To include every sensation whether it comes under the category of pleasant or not. To let go of categories. To let go of the fruits of your action. To literally go with the flow. This is the path to equanimity.”

Cyndi and her husband, David Nichtern, both practice Tibetan Buddhism, and they include many of the teachings of this practice into their particular “style” of yoga. It was in Cyndi’s class where I first heard this story:
“One day, a musician was playing a stringed instrument. He asked the Buddha, ‘How should I meditate?’
The Buddha said, ‘How do you tune your instrument?’
The musician said, ‘Not too tight, not too loose.’
The Buddha replied, ‘Exactly like that.’ “

I think of this often when I am practicing. If I am “tuning my instrument too tightly,” in other words, being too aggressive in my practice, I continue to encounter resistance, or I injure myself. On the other hand, if I am being too loose, I am practicing without discipline, without mindfulness, without intention. So, finding the middle path of the right amount of discipline and intention without the competitiveness and aggression is the one which will lead me to balance and peace of mind.

A word about the discipline of practice from Martha Graham, one of the premiere dance choreographers of our time:
“Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.” A good reminder that the path towards any goal begins with the enthusiasm and desire to continually move towards that goal. In yoga philosophy, this is called tapas.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says, “Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.” Hmmm – maybe Ms. Graham also studied yoga?

Finally, an aphorism that is used in various forms by 12 Step Programs to The Dog Whisperer: “Bring the body, the mind will follow.” If we take the time to focus on the things we have control over: a healthy, toned, well-aligned body, awareness of our breath, mindfulness of our actions and reactions, then our minds will begin to reflect those same qualities.

This is only a small collection of some of my favorite quotes and books. Feel free to leave a comment with some of your favorite quotes or books which have helped you understand or be inspired by your own practice.

Pratyahara in Class

I recently got a new cell phone with some cool new bells and whistles. I can now text, email, check Facebook, Tweet, surf the internet, and all sorts of new and exciting things that I used to have to lug my laptop around to do (which is kinda funny, anyway, given that just a few short years ago the idea of actually having a portable computer which could wirelessly connect to this invisible network of communication portals was the stuff of science fiction...now even those cool Star Trek communicators that I longed to have as a youngster seem pretty low-tech!). I admit, I was hooked! Now, even when I'm travelling from class to class, I can stay connected, though not while I'm actually driving. (Note to any of my friends who text or surf the internet while driving: STOP! Whatever it is, it can wait! If you must, pull over somewhere safe *stepping down from soapbox now*.) And it's a great time-killer if I'm waiting in line somewhere, or grabbing a bite for lunch, or even sitting in my car between classes. So, to all of you Crackberry/iPhone/Sidekick toting friends of mine, I GET IT! I am a convert. I have seen the other side of the mountain, and it is wondrous.

The one time when I have never felt the need to update my FB status, or tweet my location, or check my emails, or answer my phone is when I am involved in my yoga practice. That's my "disconnect from YOU and connect with ME" time. That's my time to recharge my batteries and clear my mind. My time to let go of all of the crap that builds up in my psyche all day, much of which is created by the constant pressure THAT I'VE CREATED to stay connected to friends and family, so that when I DO reconnect with y'all, I can do so in a centered, focused, relaxed way. I view my practice space, whether it's the area I use in my home, or my mat in a public classroom, as sacred. That is the space where all of the sweat and toxicity and stress and the deadlines and the fears and the attachments and the junk that crowds my mind is left. That is the alter of the sacrificial ego. That is the place where I receive sanctuary and sustenance and nurture and peace of mind. That is the place where I return to myself.

So, I am very disturbed by a recent trend I've noticed. People in classes keeping their portable communication devices next to their yoga mats, powered on, and turned so that the screen is visible to them while they are in Down Dog or Childs Pose or any other time when the attention and focus might be directed towards their breath or, God forbid, on the chatter and stories and all of the other stuff that is running rampant through their minds. I had one person in class recently who, while in Pigeon Prep pose, picked up her Blackberry and started texting someone. "Is there an emergency at home?" I quietly asked. "No, just making plans," she replied, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. And to her, it was.

I have asked people in class to set aside their mobile devices, and from the reactions I received you would have thought I was asking them to sacrifice one of their limbs. One person replied "But my daughter is sick at home!" At first I considered that this might constitute a situation where it might be appropriate to keep the phone handy (and on vibrate mode!), but the person kept checking the phone every time we rested, often time tapping out a quick text in the process.

I don't want to be unreasonable. I do have a doctor who comes to class when they are "on call." They informed me of this before they started taking my classes, and I told them that I didn't mind if they kept their pager (remember those?) handy, as long as they set their mat up close to the door. I've even had regular students of mine tell me that they need to keep their phones handy due to an emergency, a work situation, a family problem, etc. I get that. I get that sometimes in our busy lives our desire to get our yoga practice in requires sacrifice in other areas, or even accomodations. But one of the biggest benefits of our yoga practice is the inward journey that we take. The self-observation, being a witness to our minds and our breath, the recognition of our patterns and habits, the places where we hold ourselves back, or push ourselves too far, or commit any number of acts of aggression toward ourselves and those around us, the simple act of just being without any goals or agendas of attachments...all of these take the ability to focus and let go. Our Pratyahara practice asks that we withdraw our senses from the stimulation of the outside world. When we choose not to do this, we rob ourselves (and oftentimes others) of the opportunity to be still, and from that stillness emerge refreshed and reinvigorated, ready to deal with the outside world with clarity and awareness.

Technology is amazing, and has created amazing tools when they are utilized in appropriate ways. When our attachment to technology begins to take over every aspect of our lives, however, we begin to become enslaved by the very things which were created to free us.

9/11/ Rememberance

Following is an excerpt from a letter I wrote to my son shortly after the terrible events of 9/11/01. My yoga practice certainly helped me maintain my sanity during that time.

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I think I described to you what I saw last week. Our office is located at 15th Street and 8th Avenue, just over a mile from what is now being called Ground Zero. We have panoramic views of the entire city, including the site where the World Trade Center stood. Almost every day I have looked at those towers, and have always taken for granted that I would always see them there. They were part of our landscape, our skyline, our vision of what could be accomplished by human imagination. To look down there right now and see nothing but smoke is terribly surreal.

I got up the morning of September 11, 2001, pissed off that my hot water was off, and would be off till Thursday. I had my coffee, took a very cold sponge bath and washed my hair…tried to shave, and went to a local school to vote in the Primary election. I was happy and sad to see that the line to vote was non-existent. Happy because I didn’t need to spend any unnecessary time there, sad because there was such pathetic turnout. After voting I walked to work, returned some emails, checked my schedule for the day, and was talking with some co-workers. When I first heard someone screaming last Tuesday, I thought that perhaps a rat had gotten into the building, or that perhaps someone had been injured. The last thing I expected to see was a gaping hole in the side of one of the Twin Towers. People stared in disbelief…some started crying or screaming, concerned for loved ones who worked there. We stood there trying to decide if it had been a bomb, or an accidental explosion, but none of us were prepared for the news that it had been a plane that had hit, especially on such a beautiful fall morning. When we heard that, we assumed that the pilot must have suffered an injury or heart attack, or that there had been a malfunction somehow. I ran to my desk on the opposite side of the building to call Mom and Dad, and to let them know that I was ok (I knew that you would be asleep, and not knowing the news that the next few minutes would bring, I figured I would call you later). I started looking for a TV or radio that worked so that I could get more news…I logged onto the Internet to get news there as well. Just as I was reading reports that a plane had indeed crashed into the building, I heard screams coming from the lobby area of our floor. I ran over and about 20 people were looking out the windows, several of them saying that a 2nd plane had hit the other Tower. Not just a plane, though, a jumbo jetliner. Reports of hijackings started coming over the news, and it became obvious that we – that is NY or the US – were under attack. I had to go back to my desk to contact our Employee Assistance Program, as well as a chiropractor who was supposed to come to our office that day to give free consultations to our employees. By then the phone lines were down, and the Internet connections were sketchy. That’s when the first real wave of fear hit me. I started watching the Empire State Building, guessing that if we were under a big attack, it would be the next target. About that time more screams came from the lobby of our office, and again I ran out, not knowing what to expect. I had to blink a few times to take in what I was seeing. The first Tower, the 2nd hit, had collapsed. The remaining Tower was obscured by smoke, but the antenna on top was visible. This was ludicrous to me…how was it possible that this building could have fallen? I started wondering if the building had fallen in on itself, or worse, if it had fallen over onto other buildings like a giant toppling onto it’s face. Reports also started coming in that the Pentagon had been hit, and that there were fires on Capitol Hill (thankfully not true). As I was surveying the damage that I could see, and trying to calm whomever I could around me, we received a call that our agency was closing, but if people felt safer, they were welcome to stay. By this time we knew that transportation was going to be tough…Grand Central was closed, Port Authority also, bridges and tunnels shut down. It became apparent to us that we were in a state of emergency. The building sent security up to evacuate us – we were not in any danger that we knew of, however we do sit above a major subway station, and the Port Authority (who originally owned the WTC, as well as patrols and maintains many of the transportation venues) maintains offices here. I walked down from the 14th Floor, and then the ½ block to my apartment (I am so fortunate to live so close to work…I have heard stories of people having to walk miles, cross bridges, etc. Some were not able to make it home for a couple of days. Some not at all.)

So I got home, turned on the news, tried to call several people, including you, and was unable to get through. Phone lines were out, cellular service was gone…after all, the WTC was a major hub of communications as well…the tower on top, from what I understand, contained antennae for cell phones as well as the media. A funny story I was told – a woman, shortly after the attack, was on her cell phone. She was in a heightened state of frustration and anger, and was screaming at a customer service rep for Sprint “I pay a lot of money every month and I can’t believe that I can’t get service, blah blah blah!” Finally someone approached her and pointed out that the problem was not with Sprint, but with the fact that the big antenna just got blown up. I could identify with the woman’s frustration. Ironic, after the symbolism of the attack, that our consciousness is that money can solve our problems. A point to ponder, I’m sure, but I’m trying to stay away from my own rhetoric. So, I’m on the phone trying desperately to get through to friends, relatives, anyone, and I see on my television screen the 2nd Tower fall. For the first time. I sat on my bed in shock for a moment, amazed at what had happened. Suddenly the fact that I didn’t have hot water for my shower seemed pretty trivial.

During the course of the day I saw the horror of the situation played out over and over. Each time I expected someone to come on and say that it had all been a joke. It didn’t even look real…not even as good as some of the special effects in Hollywood. I spoke to friends, family, and waited. I felt completely powerless. I waited some more, went to the store, bought some extra water, went back home and waited some more. Finally a friend of mine wanted to come over and spend some time together. We watched the news…I couldn’t seem to get away from it, nor was I able to turn it off. We decided to walk around for a bit, so we walked down 7th Avenue towards St. Vincent’s Hospital, and looked south towards the cloud of smoke that had been the World Trade Center just hours before. We walked a bit further south, and started to smell the burning building. A friend pointed out the next day that we were also smelling human beings burning in the rubble. I still can’t face that reality. We spent some time together, and I went home, only to watch the news and wait some more.

The next day I woke up and, like so many people, hoped that this was a bad dream. After turning on the television I realized that it wasn’t. I found myself looking out whenever I heard a fighter jet fly over, and getting nervous if a delivery van remained parked outside my apartment for more than a few minutes. Finally after a few hours of watching the coverage, I went outside to walk around. Barricades were set up across the width of Manhattan at 14th Street (1 block from my apartment) with armed guards checking ID of those that were trying to get to their homes. Military personnel were patrolling in camouflage HumVees. Fighter jets were flying overhead. There were several people on the street, but there was a definite feeling of tension. I walked over to Union Square Park, and there was a makeshift memorial sprouting up, with yards of brown paper on the ground where people could write whatever they were feeling. After a long time, I reached down and wrote the word “HEAL” in a corner of the paper. It was the only thing I could think of saying. I made my way home and went to a meeting that night. Honestly, that’s about all I remember of Wednesday.

The next few days got progressively easier, though one image remains burned in my memory. I was again walking around Union Square Park with a friend, and we saw some mothers pushing their children on the swing set – with surgical masks covering their faces.

I have been able to get together with friends, go out to dinner and movies, take yoga classes, get back to work, and begin the process of my own healing. I am fortunate in that I have a lot of support here, and that nobody I know personally was injured. Several friends are temporarily out of work because their offices were either in the World Trade Center, or nearby. Life is going on. With perspective. The thing that I am continually impressed with is how we have come together. The incredible heroism, rescue and relief efforts, volunteerism, support from friends around the world…it’s truly amazing, and I am very grateful for that. It’s sad in a way that it took something of this magnitude to bring us together in this way, but that’s the way it is right now. Without indulging too much in my own rhetoric or philosophy, I hope that we, as a World, can go forward with the same amount of love and compassion that we have seen over the last few days.
In closing, I would like to leave you with something that we say at the end of one of my yoga classes. It has been a source of solace for me in many ways. “May the entire Universe be filled with Peace and Joy, Love and Light, and may the Light of Truth overcome all Darkness. Victory to that Light.”

Instant Karma

Mowing the lawn is one of those activities I have mixed reactions to. My schedule as a yoga teacher is generally flexible enough so that I usually don't have to use up any of my weekend time with my wife, but that means that often I am mowing the lawn during the hottest part of the day so that I can get it done between classes. It's drudge work, but I always have a sense of accomplishment when I'm finished. It's mindless, but it gives me the opportunity to observe my thoughts - oh, who am I kidding. I usually just daydream. Or re-live conversations I've had that day. Or think about what I'm going to have for dinner. Or any one of a thousand thousand ways I can distract myself.

So, last week I was mowing the lawn, and, strangely, was thinking about karma. Not that I DON'T think about karma or other philosophical issues now and then, but I also think about other stuff. Usually the other stuff takes residence when I'm mowing the lawn. Philospophical daydreaming is best suited for long walks with the dogs. Duh!

So, there I was mowing the lawn pondering how all of the random choices I've made in my life have led me to this point, how all of our actions affect other people and things, how really NOTHING is random (or maybe EVERYTHING is), how people manage to cross paths with each other at significant points in their lives, how people tend to attract people who are like them because they tend to make similar choices, how sometimes the results of our actions aren't known for a long time, maybe even another lifetime if you believe in that sort of thing and then as I was completely distracted by all of the thoughts whizzing about in my head I stepped in a loose patch of dirt, fell, skinned my knee and looked in horror at the lawn mower which was rolling down the hill towards me. Fortunately I caught it in time, straining a muscle in my back in my haste to not become mulch. "AHA!" I thought, "There's the lesson! Pay Attention!"

If you've ever spent time with small children, you know that you have to keep an eye on them all them time. They've not yet developed the skill of being aware of their surroundings. They don't have the experience to know that gravity has a funny way of kicking in right when they're tightrope walking along the back of the couch, that parking lots are oversized, slightly more civilized, demolition derbys, that the nice-smelling food on top of the stove is probably still hot enough to burn or scald. So we as adults supervise them. We protect them. Most of all, we try to teach them so that they live to give us another panic attack tomorrow.

Most kids, though, develop some awareness of the potential dangers of their world by the time they reach kindergarten. More develop an awareness of how to get praise or attention at an even earlier age. So, they start making choices about their actions. They begin to notice that if they share their toys with the other kids, the other kids will share with them. They notice that if they talk back to their parents, or are disrespectful to their teacher, they get punished. They understand that if they behave in a certain way, certain results can be expected.

As we grow older, patterns of behavior become more ingrained, turning into habits. A habit is a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.Habits aren't in and of themselves "bad." We also develop "good" habits like brushing our teeth, praising our children, wearing our seatbelts, etc. However we sometimes also let these patterns of behavior go un-examined simply because we don't notice them.

On our deck, there is a clear path where the finsih has been worn off by our dogs running down to our back yard. This path began the first time we opened the door to let the dogs out, but through repetition, the path has become more visible. Now, imagine all of your habitual thoughts and actions creating similar paths on your mind and body. It's suddenly clear where the term "in a rut" comes from. All of these impressions created by our habitual behavior, going all the way back to the first time we exhibited that behavior, are called "samskara" in Sanskrit.

So, how do these behaviors relate to karma? What do we mean by "karma." Many people see karma as direct cause and effect: if you do good, good things happen to you, if you do bad, bad things happen to you. While this is not entirely incorrect, it is sort of an Afterschool Special way of looking at it. What if all of the "good" and "bad" judgement were removed from the equation, and you were just left with thoughts and actions? Because all of these thoughts and actions create impressions, the more we repeat them, the more ingrained they become. So, if we are constantly acting in helpful, compassionate ways, we create those kinds of impressions, if we are contantly judgemental and selfish, those are the impressions we create.

Just as the path that my dogs have worn down in the deck leads to the back yard, the impressions we create by our thoughts and deeds lead us toward certain outcomes. Now, consider that very few of our thoughts or actions are completely linear; in other words, most thoughts and actions have an affect, direct or indirect, on many things rather than just a simple "I do A, and I get B as a result" scenario. Often this is represented by the analogy of a pebble being dropped in a lake sending out ripples in all directions, however I sometimes imagine it more like the old films I saw in elementary school demonstrating how an atomic bomb works. Imagine a table filled with mouse traps with a ping-pong ball perched on top of the spring of each trap. If you throw one ping-pong ball onto the table, it will start a reaction which causes all of the traps to eventually be set off. Now, imagine that the size of the table and the number of mouse-traps is infinite. You've probably experienced situations where you said or did something, and days, weeks, months, even years, later, an unexpected result of that action occurs.

So, how do we escape this endless cycle? How do we change our karma? The first step is by becoming aware. We recognize that we have had a part, consciously or unconsciously, in creating our present situation. At some point in our lives, a path of behavior began to appear which we reinforced by continuing to follow it. Now, again, habits are neither good nor bad, however our inability to recognize them can lead to outcomes which are desirable or undesirable. By becoming aware of the habit, we are led to the second step, discernment.

As we begin to examine each habit, we start to notice if the result of our actions is leading us toward, or away from, the type of existence we'd like for ourselves. Maybe we start to identify our actions as "skillful" or "unskillful." Once we begin to notice which habits or actions are skillful, in other words, those which lead us closer to our ideal existence, we reinfoce those habits by practicing them more often. When we determine that an action is unskillful, or one which leads us away from our ideal existence, we stop reinforcing them by finding ways to develop new patterns. Instead of reaching for a cigarette, carry gum or carrots. Instead of sitting at home lamenting lonliness, find a social activity which you enjoy like a hiking club or dance lessons.

The third step in this process is to be patient and compassionate with ourselves. Old habits are difficult to break, and, as we discussed before, many of our actions take a long time to catch up with us. If you find yourself getting discouraged by falling back into old patterns of behavior, or if something happens which is the result of a past unskillful habit, recognize that this is a process, and that as long as you continue to practice acting skillfully, eventually you will create new patterns and behaviors which will lead you to the type of life you've dreamed of. Just be sure to pay attention!

And the new Secretary of Yoga Sciences is...

My friend Staci posted a link to this article on her Facebook page.

The focus of the article is a move by some states to go after yoga studios which offer teacher training programs in an effort to subject them to the same licensing rules which apply to other vocational schools. This has caused a push-back from the yoga community, and so far some states like New York, have backed off. Other states, like Michigan and Virginia, are still pursuing studios. Some studios have even been forced to close due to the amount of red tape and the high cost of licensing fees.

About 10 years ago, a group called the Yoga Alliance was formed as a voluntary registry for yoga schools who agreed to certain minimum levels of standards of training partly based on the ethical precepts of yoga philosophy, as a way to self-regulate and and avoid the very issue of government regulation and licensing. Currently, there are around 1,000 schools nationwide registered with the Yoga Alliance. Ironically, it was this very listing which prompted state officials to start investigating this arena.

Personally, I'm a bit on the fence on this one. My knee-jerk reaction is "NO REGULATION!" It seems to me that government could actually benefit from a little pranayama and some observance of the yamas and niyamas, besides with the wide variety of approaches to yoga practice ranging from the very physical forms of hatha yoga to practices which are more meditative and philosophical in nature, how would one go about coming up for a set of standards for everyone? They more than likely would have to rely on the standards set by the Yoga Alliance...so then why add this new layer of bureaucracy?

On the other hand, yoga has started to become very mainstream. I get asked several times a year about teacher training programs I would recommend. In the past year, I've seen three or four new studios open in Central Indiana (and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head). I've taken classes with teachers, both here and outside of Indiana, whose training I question, and in some cases, who I thought were downright dangerous. And, as Sybil Killian (who is the general manager of OM Yoga Center in NY...yes, where I got my training...) pointed out in the article, “Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen, yoga is an industry. One need only leaf through the advertising section of Yoga Journal to know that.” Even though most privately owned yoga studios barely make enough to keep their doors open, yoga as an industry is making huge money. We've been convinced that it's okay to spend $100 or more on a pair of yoga pants...that somehow the $75 sport top with the cute spaghetti straps will make your Downward-Facing Dog more dynamic. Maybe somebody does need to keep a closer eye on things…

But the real problem I found in the article was that some opponents of licensing and regulation cite “religious infringement” and that new rules might “contradict religious underpinnings.” HUH?!?!?

OK…so, I admit, this question comes up a lot. And, depending on who you talk to, you will get many and varied perspectives. I think my favorite answer comes from Doug Swenson who said in a workshop that while many treat yoga as a religion, the practice of yoga is not in and of itself a religious practice. Because of it’s origins, the practice borrows from Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, much like Alcoholics Anonymous borrowed it’s steps and concepts from many western religions. Yoga is a practice which helps us unify our bodies, minds and spirits. It’s precepts and ethical practices are spiritual in nature, however it’s practice is personal and self-exploratory. You do not have to believe in any particular deity, nor are you forced to follow any specific rules of diet or observance, though many practitioners do explore various belief systems and dietary restrictions which support their own personal ethics and choices. (Here is a link to a great article by Georg Feuerstein on this subject)

The problem that I see with defending yoga from regulation by calling it a religion is that it becomes exclusionary. Now, in order to become licensed, will I have to prescribe to a set of beliefs which I don’t hold? Will I be obligated to follow certain dietary restrictions and observances which don’t have relevance to my life? In the Midwest, we’re still struggling against fears and prejudices held by those who practice western religions such as Catholicism, Christianity and Judaism. I have been told on more than a few occasions that someone can’t try a yoga class because it’s against their religion. The ironic thing is that many people find that their yoga practice supports and enhances their religious practice. Declaring yoga a religion simply to avoid regulation will further enlarge that schism, and many who might benefit from the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga practice may turn away in fear or ignorance.

It seems that it may only be a matter of time before government regulation and licensing become a reality. As with most things, there will be unexpected consequences both positive and negative. The important thing, for me, is to keep the practice of yoga inclusive. There is room for everyone, from Christian to Hindu; from Ashtangi to Raja Yogi.

It's the end of the big holiday weekend: the late-evening firecrackers and bottle rockets have nearly disappeared from our neighborhood, we have a refrigerator full of left-overs from the annual family cookout, and thoughts of independence and freedom are still running through our minds.

Freedom means different things to different people. For Americans, it is the guiding principle on which our Nation was founded, and the concept that our brave service men and women strive to protect. For some of the early settlers it meant being able to worship in whatever fashion they wanted. For the founders of our Nation, it meant the ability to govern ourselves instead of answering to a King on the other side of the ocean. For teenagers it may be the ability to make their own decisions, for entrepreneurs it is the opportunity to create financial independence doing something they love. Regardless of race, heritage, gender or politics, however, most of us are seeking freedom from suffering.

There are forms of suffering which are imposed upon us, and about which we can do very little: political or religious persecution, health problems, poverty, hunger, etc. There are other forms of suffering which are endured for a short time for a greater good. Then there are forms of suffering which we choose, either consciously or unconsciously. These are the forms of suffering which we have the power to change and free ourselves from.

At the time I discovered yoga, I was also heavily involved in a 12-Step program. The 12-Step work laid a foundation where I was able to take responsibility for my life and outlined a course of action to follow. Through this work I was able to come to grips with the true nature of the problems which had been plaguing me though much of my adult life. I discovered that the source of many of those problems was a self-centered attitude which colored the way I viewed events. I couldn't get out of my own way, and had become, in my mind, a victim of the circumstances of my life.

When I went to my first yoga class, I saw very clearly how the underlying philosophy supported my 12-Step work. Not only did the physical activity improve my attitude and inspire me to become more healthy, but the encouragement to observe myself and witness the feelings and sensations that arose provided insights on how I reacted when I was challenged (I should just give up!), when I was adjusted (why are they always criticizing me?), when I was asked to quiet my mind (Oh great, now I can't NOT think!), when I was told to do all of this without judgement (Huh?).

Yoga also provided some very practical observances and practices which would provide valuable tools to assist me. Practice being non-harming. Practice being truthful. Practice being content with the things I have. Practice observing myself.

Between the 12-Step work and the yoga practice, I slowly began to shed the actions and the attitudes which had mired me in the morass of self-pity and self-centeredness. The suffering I had accepted for years slipped away, and a new life of freedom began. I was finally able to move forward with my life and become happy and productive.

From time to time something will happen which will nudge me back towards my old ways. I feel overwhelmed and begin to withdraw. When this happens, I am generally quick to recognize the symptoms and embrace my practices more closely (Practice, not perfection!). I am able to formulate a plan of action, and more importantly, I am able to not attach to the results of those actions. This allows me to continue to move forward, rather than allow myself to become stuck in the skipping phonograph of the past. This, for me, is true freedom from suffering.