I've been thinking a lot lately about how yoga is or can be present within our lives without us even knowing. And when I say "yoga" I mean it in the broadest sense, not just in its physical practice.
Yoga shows up constantly and it goes by many different names and themes. Even in how it has become popularized in recent years and this sports compatibility, training complementing practice. But really, most athletes have been practicing some form of yoga forever. We just used to call it stretching.
I've been thinking about this for several reasons but mostly it always stems from my recent marriage. Yes I just got married. We have already passed the two week point. But my journey of what makes a wedding so special began two weeks before that. And to me, that is when the essence of yoga in our daily lives really began to shine around me. The moral goodness, selfless service and unconditional love, these were all integral parts of what helped bring my wedding together. All of these people that I have known to be part of my life, part of my core they each came to me to support me and to help in their way and I was amazed.
I think we each spend parts of our lives thinking that we are fighting through this life blind and alone, but really there are always people waiting next to you, for your hand to connect with theirs, always ready to help you. (to help you cross that intersection of life) It was so beautiful to watch and to be apart of. I will forever hold those two weeks close to my heart.
Marriage is much more than the simple unity of two people, it is the affirmation of family. Within that affirmation is yoga; it is all of the yamas and the niyamas.
Since this moment, I can't help but see yoga in a new way. I see it in myself more than before, the way that I think, the way that I react, even the way that I move. I experience it in other people and I even think of the athletes in my life and how they practice yoga without knowing it. Perhaps in their stretching or perhaps in how they prepare themselves mentally before or during a race. We all do it, it is part of our being. Yoga is so naturally part of our lives that we each are yogis, just some of us shine a little bit more, or some of us label ourselves. But I see through these facades and I am happy that you are who you are and I will nurture this natural beauty and goodness because we each need it. Thrive forward and let yourself be what it does best naturally. I love you all, and thank you for being you.
