Yoda Yoga

You're in a jam packed class.

Only a couple of inches between each mat.

Yogis are gonna be slappin' each other on every urdhva hastasana (reach hands up).

...and another person walks in. Bad luck late comer?

Not in a recent class.

One of the cool kids actually pulled up their mat to let the late arrival in.

Due to the studio setup, this meant that the experienced yogi missed the class. Weird, I know.

Anyway, your intrepid reporter asked the yogi about this the next day. The answer...

"It's only yoga. I do enough of it anyway."

Hmm...There's wisdom for us in that answer somewhere. Let's dig in...

The Two Core Principles of Yoga

Yoga has only two core principles. That's right TWO.

And they are...drum roll....

Practice (abhysa) and non-attachment (vairagya).

...now, our cool kid yogi displayed them BOTH (curse him) in his answer, as to why he gave up his class spot.

It's Only Yoga

Our cool kid yogi in saying "It's only yoga", is showing that they are not attached to yoga. 

Even though they are one of the more experienced practitioners. 

But how can an experienced yogi, not be attached to yoga?

Logic tells us, that to be experienced, you must be attached enough to get experience!

Damn these cool kids, messing with our heads, with these contradictions.

Let's keep practicing, I'm sure it'll come to us in the fullness of time.

I Do Enough Of It Anyway

The second part of the yogi's answer shows that they do SO MUCH practice, that they can afford to give up a session without it making a difference.

So how much is ENOUGH? 

Well, 2-3 sessions per week is maintenance. 3-4 sessions is making progress. 

So our experienced yogi is doing more than say 4 sessions, in order to be yoga rich enough to give one away.

We are gonna have to pull up our socks to get as yogic as this dude (double curse him and his Yoda yoga ways).

Going now am I, J