Hello November

I’m off to a wedding this weekend and am looking forward to celebrating two individuals who have decided to become united! This union of independent entities can be tricky. But as we experience in our yoga practice, working in harmony takes time and effort.

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” meaning “to yoke,” as in coming together for a common purpose. In terms of the practice, yoga brings mind, body, and breath together to attain harmony. The body, for example, can do a fine job on its own, but without paying attention, we bump into things, arrive at destinations not knowing how we managed, and often expend needless energy. Working in conjunction with the mind and breath, the body can do more and be safer.

We can experience this connection in our yoga practice when we focus on our feet. If you are standing or sitting with your feet on the ground, they anchor you but only if you bring your mind to pressing feet down as you draw the muscles up, breathing easily to maintain stamina. Just like an anchor of a boat is merely an anchor until it sinks into the water and holds the boat in place, feet touching the ground is not in itself the action of anchoring.

What does this have to do with the union of marriage? Being together is like feet touching the ground. It’s when you consciously decide to come together that you strive for harmony and enduring connection. And just as the sensation of those feet on the ground changes on a daily basis, so too does the couple. But we keep striving through that connection.