Yoga is meant to create a greater awareness of the totality of human experience – – and that means all the joy and the sorrow along the way. But I know for sure, when I’m practicing Yoga, I feel better— it reminds me I’m alive.

There was a time when I practiced Ashtanga yoga and I had a real idea of getting ahead— more poses, prettier, stronger. But as many of you know, ive had major challenges along the way—body and mind. But my spirit… I noticed that when my feelings around practices moved towards sorrow or frustration, a friction would arise. Sometimes you just have to watch yourself get hot, ya know? Its so important not to flinch or look away from your feelings! Periods of difficulty or ‘stink’ are just inherent to pursuing ambition.

The frustration I experienced within my yoga practice is of what I think I want my practice to be, and it has a way of stealing the joy from whatever my practice is. Youve heard these things before.

Once youve seen it, the way that our reactions dont align with our espoused beliefs— and appreciating the humanity in it - it takes hypeocict and turns it into levity— its FUNNY to be so bent out of shape about something so full of joy.

Healthy ambition must exist in the realm of non harming, and so when our desires for advancement bring us suffering, we must know it isn’t just about advancement— be ause a real yoga is equimonious. No, it’s about fear of death and the reality of dying before i get some brass ring (or perpetually moving goalpost).

But like I said, once youve seen see it, you cant unsee it.

And, ya know, im still having fun.

And when I’m not, I say something like “try to have a good time before ya die, wouldnt ya, hall?”

If you can quit ashtanga, you never started.

This implies that the asana and sequence are what make it authentic— get a grip. Authenticity in Ashtanga Yoga isn’t owned by a family’s sequence.

This is an indigenous insight practice.

It’s a living system.
Held up by people all over the world.
Taught in basements, bedrooms, clubs, and community halls.
Passed down not just by bloodline, but by commitment.

Yes—social media can flatten it, can turn philosophy into posture.
But it can also connect, educate, expand access.
It’s not the platform.
It’s how we use it.

I don’t have to code switch to belong here.
Queer, white, scrappy, tall, vain, neurospicy—I practice.
That’s the thread.
Study. Integrity. Self-reflection. Daily tools.
They make us easier to be around.

That’s the real flex.
And that’s what keeps Ashtanga alive.

#ashtangayoga #authenticyoga #mysorestyle #livingtradition #yogaphilosophy #yogaispractice #systemsnotstyles

One of the most radical things we can do in an economy that commoditizes our attention is to focus on what we want, not what someone else tells us to.

Long time Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga teachers — the ones who have been teaching consecutively for a decade or more— what have you learned?

Long time Ashtanga Yoga Teachers who no longer teach, why not? Please share in the comments.

this is what maggie was responding to.