Satya?

Discussion of physical aspects of yoga (on and off the mat)
In recognition of Durga Ashtami.

A regular reader of this blog commented on the consistency of my practice of taking photographs. Thinking about this practice, reminded of something I recall John Friend having said. We have a steady hatha yoga practice (asana, pranayama, meditation), for two reasons. When we’re feeling full of joy and gratitude, we practice to make offering in thanks. When we are feeling disconnected or off-balance or sad, we practice to remind ourselves of our connection in spirit. This pretty much means there is always a reason to practice.
With the photographs, sometimes the sweetest moment of my day was noticing a flower or a cloud. I practice doing so, especially when I’m feeling too caught up in the tumult. In the moment (and on reflection later when I review, select, and edit an image to share, I remember, as I do when I do my hatha yoga practice, my current well-being. Sometimes there is more about yoga practice I can say with a photograph than I could with a paragraph.

Excellent example of why it is good to look and pause before taking action–such as picking a blossom.

In the middle of the day today , I took formal leave to bear witness at the march against gun violence on the Capitol grounds.

Having brought myself face to face with this many mothers of murdered sons, what could I do but offer respect, see what I can do to help from my own well-being.

What does it mean to practice yoga asana? Who gets to do it? What does it mean to be good at it?

@ Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, 9/19
A yogi might consider whether wanting to answer “yes” to this question (no matter the circumstances of our dying death) is a major goal of a steady practice.

Judy Chicago and Martha Nussbaum, Fresh Talk, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 9/22/19