Yoga as play

A resolution I have for this year is sharing more about my personal yoga practice and how I came to fall in love with this system - eventually becoming a yoga teacher. To start with I thought some background on what is most meaningful to me about yoga would be an authentic share.

The above picture encapsulates my answer to this enquiry perfectly. I was drawn to yoga by a myriad of reasons - many of which I cannot express linguistically. However, what kept me in and with yoga is what is most important to me. Playing is what made me committed to yoga. It was so joyous and fresh each time I met my mat that it felt just like playtime as a child. Being so intoxicated with play that I would forget to eat, drink would lose shoes, jerseys, awareness of my whereabouts and my identity. I am thankful to have found my 'play' as an adult. For me, yoga is a well of joy - and then some.

Yoga is where my attention gets to be hyper-focused on practice, not ruminating or discussing - pure action. Practice which teaches my mind to breathe and stay calm through the storm of discomfort that is the asana, or/and discomfort of meditative stillness and delving into the mind or the challenge of concentrating through boring and repetitive pranayam. The byproducts of yoga range from more joy, peace, lightness in spirit, more focus and a more centered disposition which helps me grow faster. Just as play does for a child. More than anything, it keeps me being me. Moreover, it keeps me empowered being me.

My mat keeps me myself by helping me forget myself and what or how i have to be. Only my breath, body and space are of concern. I never expected my most important spiritual practice would simultaneously double as play for my inner child. While flaming my divine spark, I get to be my most joyous and excited self. As profound as this has been for me, life is such that the most profound experiences can dull down into the mundane hum drum of life, merging to become the norm. It's just like the Zen saying, attributed to Xinxin Ming that says Before enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood and carrying water. My yoga practice has been no different. A new challenge has met my practice. After growing familiar with yoga, my mind now attempts to rationalize, box and make the practice predictable. I hadn't imagined that I would need to protect my play from the tendencies of the mind. A necessary part of my yoga practice is remembering to forget myself. To surrender and return to the feeling of complete presence. To allow space between my thoughts, emotions, body, responsibilities and identity so that stillness and silence engulf the real me - my inner being (soul).

When I am able to stay true to my practice by protecting it in this way - yoga stays true to its promise. Threading together mind, body and soul while facilitating self-realization. I am thankful to say that I have been consistent in remembering to forget myself.