Writings
Footsteps
June 2008 Hong Kong
I can come up with a coherent story of how my journey of Yoga started – the year, class and how I felt walking out of the first class. However, to be totally honest, weaving through the foreground and the background, it was a big blurry tapestry of events and mixed feelings. To put it more precisely in hindsight, it felt like I was drawn towards Yoga when Yoga decided I was a worthy student to start on the path.
My life had arrived at a pretty picture at the time. I had acquired many things, relationships and circumstances my mind desired. But a void was growing larger and louder inside. As soon as I started Yoga, a series of events and life experience began to accelerate. I often felt like being hit by an oncoming train and there was no choice but surrender to the momentum of it all.
Seven and half year later, one rainy morning before dawn, I walked into the sweet little yoga studio that I have come to know very well. I was to teach a Mysore class for the first time. I practiced, took shavasana and got up to lead the Ashtanga invocation. Then I proceeded to do what I know so well by heart. Only this time I was circling around the room, hopping from mat to mat, rather than staying within one, within my own mental landscape.
It was the most uneventful and natural undertaking I have ever experienced. It felt as if I was stepping forward with the second foot after the first was firmly placed and settled. I remained even and steady-minded throughout the session.
I was able to take the same step, as those who live, love and make transmitting this Yoga practice their life’s work, only because of the selfless teaching my teachers have showered me. At this point of my journey, I feel compelled to acknowledge my profound gratitude to them. Sri K Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Rangaswamy in Mysore India, are undoubtedly the lineage “parampara” in all the spirit and quintessence. They are the living and vibrant source of Ashtagna Vinyasa Yoga. Clint Orchuk who has been a teacher, friend and sounding board on the journey; Olaf Kalfaz, who embodies the transformative power of this practice; and Alex Medin whose unwavering faith and deep enquiry of Yoga in all that it manifests both elevate and humble my practice and my study of Yoga.
My studies of Yoga and Ayuveda have taken me a number of times to India where the land continues to nourish, inspire and infuse me with knowledge and faith. There will be many more trips to come. There will be many teachers to learn from. I thank all the names and forms in Creation, all that which enriches my depth of the vidyas I engage intellectually and worship, as well as reflect the light of inner “sad guru”.
“yogena yogojnatavya yogo yogatpravartate”
Yoga is to be known through Yoga. Yoga alone is the teacher of Yoga
- Vyasa
