YOGATECTURE: The Elegant Arc of Change

Originally published in Asana International Yoga Journal on October 2, 2017

Yoga empowers and brings seeds to fruition. From the mat up, yoga-tec-ture is the process of yoga. And the process of yoga is the work of personal transformation formed by the elegance and heritage of an ancient blueprint that molds bodies, minds, and spirits.

This blueprint admonishes the yogi to wrestle with self and discover inner work which transforms the outer structure. Yoga-tec-ture moves like the flow of kundalini – from the ground up – lighting the inner fire. There, yogis emboding this fiery heritage, transform themselves as they learn to strengthen the will, endure physical distress, adapt to limits, and slowly integrate their newfound power in surrender and relinquishment.

Like builders, able to see the entire structure from its blueprint, yogis learn to let go of worry for self as they work to behold and integrate Self. Yoga transforms the old structure by adding elegant mansions of imagination and identity. It grows by experience which is the immediate teacher and the proof of all belief. The building of yoga-tec-ture never ends; rather, by attentive building, the yogi moves toward a completion not found in perfection, but unveiled in the process of seeking comprehensive stillness in one moment.

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By taking a deeper look inward, the yogi sees more humanity. Their assumptions are challenged and changed. They fret less about themselves and less about others; judgement is abated by meditation and awareness, and the yogi’s identity is constantly reformed. They grow from greater knowledge of the self to the cosmic Self.

Like sandpaper on wood, the heat and tapas of a yoga practice builds strong resolve minute by minute. Yoga is not a boot camp; but every session is a body, mind, and spirit camp. We celebrate classmates and watch in awe at their hard-won strength and flexibility. We bow to our teachers for their verve and dedication; and by learning their lessons, we make visible our gratitude. Yet at the center of this active becoming is the point – the still point – from which all breath begins and the cosmic dance is born.

And then, when ready, they yogi is moved to greater surrender: they learn to absorb pain and come to balance. Each thread teaches them to breathe deeply in the moment and pay attention to everything. The ardor and heat of yoga, from the center outward, is a fire cracking open hearts and spines.