yogi, what’s in a name?

“What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, II, ii 1-2)”   What does it mean to you to be a yogi?  Do you call yourself a yogi, or do you just do yoga?  And what is “doing yoga?” is it performing crazy looking postures?  is it sitting for hours in meditation?  is it levitating?  is it chanting?

this is a personal question, although in the classical sense, there are eight limbs “ashtanga” to yoga.  sharath gave a nice speech about this on friday.  ”asana (postures) is only one limb of yoga.”  he talked about those who could do fancy postures, but what does that mean?  people in the circus can do that better, so can gymnasts.   “if we don’t practice the yamas and niyamas we don’t become yogi” he said in conference.  the yamas and niyamas are the first two limbs of yoga.  the yamas are five in number, and guide us in how to act in society:  ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfullness), asteya,  (non-hoarding/stealing), brahmacharya (conservation/channeling of sexual energy) and aparigrahaha (non-coveting).  The Niyamas guide us in personal conduct, how we treat ourselves saucha (cleanliness), santosha (contentment, happy on the inside), tapas (leading a disciplined life), svadyaya (self reflection & study) and isvara pranidhana (dedication, devotion, surrender).

I was very glad to hear this talk.  Some of these are clear:  not doing harm to others, but also talking negatively is doing harm.  And being truthful is sometimes easy, but it is hardest to be truthful with yourself, especially about difficult things, or parts of yourself for which you are not proud.  Earn what you deserve, don’t take more and be happy with what you have.  How often do I forget how lucky I am?  Even to be able to reflect upon these things.

Cleanliness on the outside is easy, but on the inside is harder.  Thinking pure thoughts that are positive and good.  Keeping the mind pure.  To be happy on the inside, not just showing a happy face on the outside, this is contentment and it is being truthful.  And leading a disciplined life in society, not just going away into the forest, but being in society and living as a yogi can be a challenge.   Self-reflection, looking at oneself and making changes where we can are the harder things to do, harder than those arm balances or backbends.

Many things to think about, its much more than what we do on the mat.  How we interact with others, are we kind, patient and loving, even when this is hard.  Can we set limits where we need to, this is a way of being truthful too.  As Sharath told us “yogi’s lifestyle is important; this is how we become a yogi through the yamas and niyamas”

what is being a yogi to you?