Toward a Yoga Presence:

why yoga knows what it knows, and how the body learns what insight alone cannot teach.

Long before we step onto a yoga mat, we inherit the belief that knowledge comes through effort, mastery, and self-improvement. Yoga suggests something else.

It is difficult to be at ease and fully present in a yoga class. Long before we step onto the mat, we bring with us a cultural inheritance that says knowledge is earned through effort, achievement, and improvement. We assume that if something matters, it must be conquered, completed, or mastered. I thought this way too when I started, but there was another, and better way, I had yet to learn.

My grasp of something called a yoga presence

came by accident. I was putting in great effort during my classes and life study for several days in a row. And then one day I had little energy for the practice but started a simple stretch and breath routine in my own home. After twenty minutes, I stopped and realized that my mind truly was present with me in that moment. It is something I experienced a lot in yoga classes but not usually when walking around in my home or in my ordinary life. That’s when I realized my learning didn’t require a classroom space but only asked me to attend my breath and be at ease in my own presence.

It’s not in Herculean outward effort, but the opposite, an inner release toward surrender. Yoga effort may put us into moments of discomfort, and that is part of its therapeutic, but the balance of opposites or the force of hatha requires surrender and ease too. There is a reason that the “stilling of the fluctuations of the mind” arrives early in The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali. It’s about balance, but additionally, I love how this phrase rolls off the tongue, yogacittavrittinirodah. Say it out loud a few times.

The word arrives early in The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali. It’s about balance, but additionally, I love how it rolls off the tongue, yogacittavrittinirodah. Say it out loud a few times.

It became obvious to me that martial artists know this truth. They talk about using an opponent’s energy to their advantage and will find ways to catch the opponent off balance to then use this aggression against them. I realized that it’s what I did a lot to myself, I struggled to do something that I thought I should do in class when it was actually working against me.

Taking One’s Seat, a step on the way to a yoga presence

Mark Stevens reminds us that the literal meaning of asana is “to take one’s seat.” This is often interpreted as presence in the present moment, but the phrase reaches deeper than attentional instruction. To take one’s seat is to accept location, limitation, and timing. It is to practice knowing from here rather than from an imagined elsewhere. It’s what I learned by myself that day. I was not in some imaginary elsewhere, but home with myself. It was a place where I could take my seat.

Over the course of a lifetime, a yogi takes this seat thousands of times and the knowledge that emerges is conceptual at first. But the body learns from the repetitive act of attention. Resistance appears, and never goes away, but the negotiation between breath and pressure teaches how to release that resistance. Nothing about this is accidental. It is yoga’s training of a new way of knowing, we can call it a knowledge of presence.

Presence as Method, Not Mood

What is often called “presence” in yoga is not a fleeting mental state. It is a disciplined relational stance. Presence can be practiced whether we are in a room with others or alone in our homes. The relational state of presence cannot be taught, it cannot be rushed, it cannot be summoned by instruction; but arrives when the nervous system trusts that it will not be abandoned, when we stay in the pose long enough for the body to speak back, when the vulnerability we feel shifts to trust.

This staying is learning, and when we stay, knowledge is generated by connections between breath and resistance, intention and consequence, effort and surrender. The body remembers these lessons because they are stored somatically.

A therapist speaking on grief during a seminar I once attended said, “Stress is perceived in the mind, but felt in the body. Therefore, to treat stress in your mind, learn to relax your body.” I’d not heard that before, and its wisdom stunned me.

The mind perceives the stress, and after an hour or two, the mind may forget about that stressful moment and be on to the next task, but the body sits with the result of that stress. Yoga teaches the body to be at ease, and the body then calms the mind. It’s the reversal of the normal treatment for stress or anxiety.

Yoga became the laboratory to practice this epistemology of the body. Not from a place of comfort, but one of attention. By paying attention, we return to the practice, stay with the pose and learn from what resists.

This is yoga’s tested claim, that knowledge grows as we return to our presence in surrender. This is the truth that brings more life to us. It is a presence earned through repetition that becomes a way of knowing that we carry into our daily lives. And isn’t that the point?

catalogue of yoga inspirationals published, listed here

108. March 2026 “Toward A Yoga Presence” OM Yoga Magazine.  https://www.ommagazine.com/toward-a-yoga-presence-why-yoga-knows-what-it-knows-and-how-the-body-learns-what-insight-alone-cannot-teach/

107. January 2026 “The Body That Remembers” OM Yoga Magazine https://www.ommagazine.com/the-body-that-remembers/  

106. February 2026 “Becoming the Breath: A Journey through Yoga’s Inner Weather” OM Yoga Magazine https://www.ommagazine.com/becoming-the-breath-a-journey-through-yogas-inner-weather/

105. January 2025 “Yoga: A Lifeline for the Drowning” OM Yoga Magazine https://gregoryormson.com/2025/07/16/yoga-a-lifeline-for-the-drowning/

104. “A Field Guide to North American Yoga Birds” https://gregoryormson.com/2025/07/03/a-field-guide-to-north-american-yoga-birds/https://gregoryormson.com/2025/07/03/a-field-guide-to-north-american-yoga-birds/

103. Yoga: The Practice of Conscious Compassion, OM YOGA magazine, https://gregoryormson.com/2025/06/18/awake-yogis-the-new-edge-of-compassion/

July 2023, Om Yoga Magazine, “Let Love Fall.”

March 2023, Om Yoga Magazine, “Playing in Space: a yogic way of Being,”

May 2022 Om Yoga Magazine, “Yoga as the Sailing Forth.” 

December 2022 Om Yoga Magazine, “The Importance of Connection,” September 17, 2021, Asana Journal, “Injury as Wise Teacher,” https://www.asanajournal.com/injury-as-wise-teacher/ 

August 2021 The Wausau Daily Herald, “Yoga for Bikers: ‘Motorcycling Yogi’ plans to teach yoga moves at Bull Falls Harley-Davidson” 

May 2021, OM Yoga, “Yoga as Life-Altering Gift: From freediving to chess, how a yoga practice can enhance every aspect of your life.”  https://www.ommagazine.com/yoga-as-a-life-altering-gift/ 

September 2017, Arizona Rider Motorcycle News, “Fixing our Backs, Riding our Bikes,” online and in print. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/

March 31, 2021, The Mining Journal, “Yoga and Leather: NMU alum leads class for bikers.” Marquette, Michigan.  https://www.miningjournal.net/life/tuesday-health/2020/07/yoga-and-leather-nmu-alum-leads-class-for-bikers/

January 29, 2021, The Lantern, UW La Crosse, “Yoga + Harley’s = Biking, body benefits,” benefits.” https://www.uwlax.edu/alumni/lantern/balanced-bikers/

Fall, 2020, “Making Contact with Yourself and Your Practice,”

Fall, 2020, “Seniorgrams from the Successful,” pending Asana Journal 

July 10, 2020, Northern Michigan Alumni News, “Alumnus leads yoga and leather class for bikers.” https://news.nmu.edu/index.php/alumnus-leads-yoga-and-leather-class-bikers 

May 2020, OM Yoga, “Yoga and Leather: How yoga is helping Harley riders and other bikers to find their Zen on and off the highway,” online only via Pocket Mags

April 2020, OM Yoga, “Clearing Space,” print and online Pocket Mags

March 2020, OM Yoga, “Yogatecture: Building Your House of Truth,” print and online Pocketmags 

Feb. 3, 2020, Yogi Times, “Conducting Heat to Cleanse the Self,” https://www.yogitimes.com/article/hot-yoga-tapas-heated-fire-practice 

January 2020, Asana Journal, “Yoga and the Pure Consciousness of Healing,” print only

Jan. 2020, OM Yoga, “Yoga’s Outliers: Men” print or Pocket Mags

Dec 2019, OM Yoga, “Silence and Slow Time,” print or Pocket Mags UK,

November 2019, HOG Magazine (magazine of the Harley Owners Group) “Rough Road? Breathe …” Print or HOG Ap. Vol. 051,

2019 October 2019, OM Yoga and Lifestyle Magazine, “Conducting the Awesome,” Print only.

July 2019, YOGA Magazine, “Yoga and Leather: a new road for bikers,” Feature w coverJune 16,

2019. Bad Yogi Magazine, “The Way to Sacred Being,” https://www.badyogi.com/blog/the-way-to-sacred-being/ May 14,

2019. Bad Yogi Magazine, “Let It Be: When Your Yoga Becomes You.” http://www.badyogi.com/blog/let-it-be/    

March 2019. Bad Yogi Magazine, “Yoga, Jesus, and the Pure Consciousness of Healing.” https://www.badyogi.com/blog/yoga-jesus-and-healing/ 

March 2019. Yoganect, “Yoga as Commencement Ritual.” https://www.yoganect.com/story/show/yoga-as-commencement-ritual/ 

February 2019. elephant journal, “Conducting the Awesome: What I’ve learned from 7 Years of Hot Yoga.” https://www.elephantjournal.com/2019/02/conducting-the-awesome-what-ive-learned-from-7-years-of-hot-yoga/ 

December 2018.  OM yoga and lifestyle magazine, “Coming OM: rediscovering the deep, abiding peace of coming home in a frantic world.” Print only.

October 2019. Sivana East, “Armor On, Armor Off: The Psychology of Yin Yoga for Today.” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/armor-on-armor-off-the-psychology-of-yin-yoga-for-today/ 

September 17, 2018, Sivana East, “Nexus of a New Identity.” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/nexus-of-a-new-identity-namaste/ 

September 2018, Sivana East, “Embraced by Joy and Bliss.” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/embraced-by-joy-and-bliss/ 

August 2018, Sivana East, “Delight Song of a New Architecture.” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/the-delight-song-of-a-new-architecture/ 

July 2018, Asana Journal, Issue 187 “Transforming the Emotional Body,” Print and online HTTPS https://www.asanajournal.com/transforming-emotional-body/ 

August 2018, Sivana East, “The Real Power of Savasana.”https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/yg-nothing-to-lose-everything-to-gain/

August 2018, Sivana East, “Intention: Golden Egg for Change.” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/intention-your-golden-egg-for-change/ 

August 2018, The Health Orange, “6 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Yoga Class,” https://thehealthorange.com/stay-fit/yoga/six-yoga-tips-most-of-your-class/ 

August 6, 2018, Sivana East, “Mantra for Me and You” https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/mantra-for-me-and-you/ 

April 2, 2018, Asana Journal, “Slow Down and Breathe” Printhttps://www.asanajournal.com/slow-down-breathe/ 

February 8, 2018, Asana Journal, “Tradition Trumps Trendiness” https://www.asanajournal.com/tradition-rumps-trendiness/ 

December 16, 2017, Hello Yoga.com “Yoga Teacher Training: Revelations Encountered: 200- hour-intensive-yoga–teacher–training-course-retreat-reflections/

October 31, 2017, elephant journal “How Yoga Ruins Your Life,” https://www.elephantjournal.com/2017/10/how-yoga-ruins-our-lives/ 

October 7, 2017, http://www.tribegrow.com/gilbert-yoga-intensive-yoga-teacher-training-course-retreat-pine-arizona/ 

July 2017, Asana Journal “True Presence.” Print and https://www.asanajournal.com/true-presence/ 

June 2017, Asana Journal “Yogatecture: The Elegant Arc of Change.” https://www.asanajournal.com/ 

May 21, 2017, Asana Journal “Truth Force on Your Mat.” Print issue May, 2017 https://www.asanajournal.com/truth-force-on-your-mat/ 

April 20, 2017, Yogi Times “9 Ways to Give Back to Yoga.” https://www.yogitimes.com/article/what-you-give-to-yoga/  

Ap. 1, 2017, Tribegrow.com “Teaching: It’s Not About You.” https://tribegrow.com/key-yoga-teaching-attitude-approach/

March 13, 2015, BoaYoga.com, “Por que Precisamos de yoga mais do que nunca.” (Why We Need Yoga Now More than Ever) http://boayoga.com.br/por-que-precisamos-de-yoga-agora-mais-do-que-nunca-gregory-ormson/ 

January 13, 2017, Asana Journal “Enter the Master, Enter the Child” https://www.asanajournal.com/enter-the-master-enter-the-child/ 

December 13, 2016, Asana Journal “The Honorable Yogi,” http://www.asanajournal.com/the-honorable-yogi/ 

November 14, 2016, Asana Journal “Finding Your Depth” http://www.asanajournal.com/finding-your-depth/ 

October 15, 2016, TribeGrow.com, “It’s Not About You. “https://medium.com/tribe-grow/

September 30, 2016, Asana Journal “The Bridge Within” (print only) 

September 24, 2016, HelloYoga.com, “How Yoga Brought My Soul Back” https: //helloyoga.com/midnight-hour-yoga-personal-healing-transformation/

August 24, 2016, Asana Journal, “Gifts from the Core http://www.asanajournal.com/gift-from-the-core/ 

August 24, 2016, Asana Journal, “Release into Savasana http://www.release-into-savasana/ 

August 17, 2016, Asana Journal, “By a Thread” http://www.asanajournal.com/by-a-thread/   

July 5, 2016, DoYouYoga, “5 Tips and One Requirement for Teaching Yoga Newbies” http://www.doyouyoga.com/5-tips-one-requirement-for-coaching-yoga-newbies-93326/ 

June 29, 2016, Asana Journal, “Your Beautiful Feet” http://www.asanajournal.com/my-beautiful-feet/ 

June 21, 2016, The Health Orange, India, “Dana Strang, coach and teacher,” Print 

June 8, 2016, Seattle Yoga News, “5 Coaching Tips for Yoga Newcomers and One Requirement.” https://seattleyoganews.com/5-coaching-tips-for-yoga-newcomers-and-one-requirement/

 June 2, 2016, Asana Journal, “Making Heroes. “http://www.asanajournal.com/making-heroes/ 

May 31, 2016, Asana Journal, “The Immigrant Asana. “http://www.asanajournal.com/the-immigrant-asana/ 

May 19, 2016, Yogi Times, “Discovering the Emotional Body Practice of Yoga.” http://www.yogitimes.com/article/discovering-emotional-body-practice-yoga/ 

April 28, 2016, Asana Journal, “Sphinx Pose: to Rise in Righteousness.” http://www.asanajournal.com/sphinx-pose-to-rise-in-righteousness/

 March 21, 2016, Asana Journal, “Storage Wars and Yoga’s Emotional Rescue.” http://www.asanajournal.com/storage-wars-and-yogas-emotional-rescue/ 

March 14, 2016, Asana Journal, “Yoga: A Parable of Unmaking.” http://www.asanajournal.com/a-parable-of-unmaking/ 

February 11, 2016, DoYouYoga, “A New Planting, A New Harvesting.” http://www.doyouyoga.com/a-new-planting-a-new-harvesting/ 

February 16, 2016, Asana Journal, “Asana Back to The Innocent Age.” http://www.asanajournal.com/asana-back-to-the-innocent-age/ 

January 25, 2016, elephant journal, “The Year of the Monkey and Yoga’s Counter-Cultural Revolution. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/09/the-year-of-the-monkey-yogas-counter-cultural-mathematic/

January 25, 2016, Asana Journal, “The Missing Link, https://www.asanajournal.com/the-missing-link/

 January 20, 2016, Yoga International, “My Portable Home: Finding Refuge on My Yoga Mat. http://www.yogainternational.com/article/view-my-portable-home-finding-refuge-on-my-yoga-mat/ 

January 8, 2016, Asana Journal, “Yogi, Heal Thyself. https://www.asanajournal.com/yogi-heal-thyself/ 

Nov. 12, 2015, DoYouYoga, “Lessons from Yoga and Freediving.” http://www.doyouyoga.com/lessons-from-yoga-and-freediving/ 

July 27, 2015, DoYouYoga, “Three Stages of a Yogi’s Transformation.” http://www.doyouyoga.com/the-three-stages-of-a-yogis-transformation/ 

July 10, 2015, Yogi Times, “Peace, Just a Pause.” http://www.yogitimes.com/article/peace-just-a-pause-present-now-accepting-practice-yoga/ 

June 26, 2015, elephant journal, “Relinquishment: How a Trip to India Can Redefine our Lives.” http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/06/relinquishment-how-a-trip-to-India-can-redefine-our-lives/ 

June 22, 2015, elephant journalhttp://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/06/why-even-bad-prayers-are-good-prayers/ 

June 5, 2015, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/06/yoga-and-the-place-of-soul/ 

April 12, 2015, Yogi Times http://www.yogitimes.com/article/yoga-covenant-agreement-vow-commitment/ 

March 11, 2015, elephant journalhttp://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/03/how-yoga-makes-us-kinder/ 

February 21, 2015, DoYouYoga http://www.doyouyoga.com/why-yoga-should-bring-us-to-social-action/ 

February 15, 2015, Yogi Times http://www.yogitimes.com/article/who-moved-the-yoga-mat-practice/ 

January 6, 2014, DoYouYoga http://www.doyouyoga.com/4-reasons-teachers-should-use-touch-in-yoga/ 

December 11, 2014, Yogi Times https://www.yogitimes.com/article/story-of-yoga-poem-parable 

December 27, 2014, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/12/the-yoga-pose-that-healed-my-lower-back-injuries/ 

November 24, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/favorite-quote-practice/ 

November 21, 2014, DoYouYoga http://www.doyouyoga.com/mantra-the-power-of-word/ 

October 22, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/doing-yoga-30-years-now/ 

October 16, 2014, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/10/ego-injury-10-questions-for-yoginis/ 

October 2, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/find-silence-yoga-practice/  

Sept. 21, 2014, DoYouYoga.com http://www.doyouyoga.com/how-yoga-moves-from-it-to-it/ 

Sept. 17, 2014, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/09/mapping-yogas-breathcentric-diamond-body-gregory-ormson/ 

Aug. 15, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/take-inventory-yoga-yoga-like-aa/ 

Aug. 2, 2014, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/08/the-savasana-cloud-gregory-ormson/ 

July 1, 2014, elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/07/the-importance-of-living-in-alignment-gregory-ormson/ 

April 5, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/reality-check-yoga-teachers/ 

March 12, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/yogas-hidden-benefit-unconscious-mind/ 

Feb. 3, 2014, The Yoga Blog http://www.theyogablog.com/365-days-yoga-completely-changed-life/