The Purpose of Practice

June brings many rays of sunshine - the summer solstice, International Day of Yoga, and Father's Day are all celebrated June 21st this year! 

Although Father's Day comes the month after Mother's Day, dads don't come after moms in our hearts.  The order of these holidays seems to express the innate humility fathers embody.  It is this humility that we celebrate as our theme this month.

---

Nobody cares whether you can put your legs behind your head in your coffin.
- Rod Stryker

---

The hallmark of care-taking is a willingness to set aside one's ego and humble oneself to the circumstances.  I think of some of the great fathers I know, patiently explaining a complicated concept in a way their five year old can understand, practicing yoga with a child hanging off of them, or offering reassuring guidance in moments of challenge. 

These are all expressions of humility.  When we step aside to let the one growing and learning accomplish their goals on their own, but remain a constant support in the wings. 

Much like we can all practice motherhood with ourselves, so we can father ourselves - remaining consistent and having faith we'll figure it out if we keep going.  Creating the power to change without our ego clouding the way.

Yoga and meditation are fantastic training grounds for humility.  In fact, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali warn about letting your ego get in the way.  Once a person becomes adept at a few yoga poses and sitting still in meditation, the ego may start to feel pretty proud.

While working to continually improve within your practice is a good thing, once the ego is involved, development is halted.  The ego tends to hold on to the final product, whereas the heart prioritizes the process.

Once the ego has determined "I've accomplished it," no further progress is possible.  But a heart-centered approach is continually evolving, responsive to life as it is right now.  Not holding onto a fancy pose you did ten years ago but now hurts.

Our teacher, Sonia Sumar, often tells us we need to "stop fighting with the position."  She explains that we must find the zero-point of each position, where we are moving to our limits but completely comfortable and in control.  "Only then," she always follows up, "are you practicing yoga."

Yoga asks us to meet our mind and body where it is at this very moment.  We have to humble ourselves and listen to the signals our body is telling (or in some cases, screaming) at us.  Once we do that, we will progress.  No question.

This is the purpose of a lifelong practice like yoga.  As we develop, our understanding of these practices deepens beyond the body and even the mind, toward the very essence of ourselves.

In the words of Swami Satchidananda, we become more easeful, peaceful, and useful by developing our practice beyond the level of the ego.  Instead, we move our attention to our heart.  That is what fatherhood is all about!

Then, our practice - whether within our practice as yogis or as fathers (to ourselves or others) - becomes a service to humanity, a place to find permanent peace and joy, and a practice of surrendering to our place in the universe.  And isn't that more worthwhile than putting your legs behind your head?