February 16, 2020

I'll preface this by saying I curse a lot. On the internet and in real life. So if you have a problem with that then oh well. Maybe don't read this. Maybe don't read anything I write. Maybe grow the fuck up and realize that words are words and my use of certain four letter ones doesn't detract from my ability to speak eloquently and wisely. Words only have power if you allow them.

Fuck your originality. I mean this in the loveliest way possible, if there is such a meaning.

Not long ago I taught a yoga class. Not out of the ordinary for me considering that it is what I do for a living. Then later on in the day I attended another class and I noticed something. Well, I noticed many things, but the main thing I noticed is that this class was nearly identical to the one I taught earlier. At first I was annoyed. How could this flow be so similar to the one I just moved my students through? How, when I had spent my precious time and energy coming up with a strategic sequence, could someone else possibly even think to come up with the same motions I did? But then I got over myself, let go of my ego, and woke the hell up (metaphorically of course). No single individual holds the copyright on movement or art. Ancient yogis have been using the practice to yoke the light and the dark in their lives well before mine led me to the mat, and the practice will exist long after I’ve been called away from this world. In short, the pride and superiority I feel in the body and in the mind is a short term gratification that will lead to long term detriments if I let it consume my soul.

One of my favorite things about yoga, and one of the things that separates it from other forms of physical movement is the vitality brought to the movements, the way mindfulness sneaks its way into the poses. As long as we remain active, engaged, and fully aware in every second of every breath of every pose and as long as we take those lessons off the mat and use them to maneuver through our time here on earth we are practicing yoga. I am grateful to be able to use the physical practice to bear witness to the experience of the body and mind.

By the time savasana was over I was smiling and full of gratitude. Maybe the universe was telling me that this was what my body needed that day. Maybe great minds just think alike. Maybe I've been blessed enough to learn from great teachers and that shows up in my teachings. Maybe I should have enough confidence in myself, my mind, my talents, and my life to stop using the word 'maybe' so fucking much.

So for all of us working to hone our craft: keep going. To all of the individuals just getting started and feel pressure to be new or exciting: master the basics. Imitate your inspirations and take that understanding to explore. Maximize your effort with smart technique, repetition and intention. Rinse and repeat. Practice until you get it right; then practice until you can’t get it wrong. Practice until you’ve memorized your own quirks, nuances and idiosyncrasies enough to develop your approach to modernization. Besides, I can almost promise that if you’ve had a great idea, it’s already been done. The earth is 4.5 billion years old after all.

Yoga belongs to everyone if you do the work to claim it. Movement belongs to each of us if we take the time to learn and understand our bodies. The answers to many of life’s questions can be found by simply taking the time to sit still and listen. Who am I (or anyone else) deem otherwise?

Imitate. Integrate. Innovate.