Sometimes is not about the practice. But about the living, the laughing and the loving. Wait that IS the practice

The other day someone asked me the perennial question “how often do you practice yoga”…I know, I know they meant  asana…but sometimes I weary of the question.  Why?  Well, because every moment of my existence is a yoga practice. Sometimes I practice well and I live in this space of a nonjudging, non grasping, non straining observer that flows with life…Other times; well let’s say sometimes practice is not perfect.

Sometimes I forgive myself and others and other times… hey I am only human  after all.

Some days my “practice” includes time on the mat practicing my asanas, other days it only involves pranayama, sometimes meditation, sometimes the best I do is not punch someone (I call that discernment don’t you?)  I can honestly say that my best yogic practice is of Jnana yoga (knowledge) there isn’t a day goes by that I am not studying either a text or myself…a lot of days I prefer the texts, as my own self isn’t always that pretty to look at…back to meditation…it’s a work in progress

But no matter how you slice it yoga is my whole existence.  From studying to devotion, from figuring out how I can best serve my relationship and my self. To letting go of illusions about myself and others…to creating my classes and my playlists, to writing my blogs…but in spite of this very “yogic” outlook there is one thing I refuse to do…and that’s take myself or even yoga too seriously.

I respect the practice, the power of it…I find the words, the history amazing and sacred and I hope to be the best human I can be because of its influence in my life…but alas I still want to be just human.

So please forgive me if sometimes my yoga practice doesn’t look as yogic to you…I may get angry and even say bad words (oh who I am kidding I am practically the “cussing yogi”)  I may laugh too loud, or eat too much,  or drink too much I may stumble and not even be recognizable as a yogi…don’t judge the yoga or the practice on my humanity.

I will pick myself up and try again — an ongoing practice a continual dance of yoga, spirituality, reality, illusion…determining what is distraction and what is playfulness.   So I am going to keep letting  the good times roll, I will continue to live laugh and love within the framework  of my yoga practice and if that doesn’t work for you…well I am feeling very non-judgey so just go about your life and I will do the same.