You can’t give what you don’t have.
– Gary Kraftsow quoting T.K.V. Desikachar
Listening to this interview done by Lizzie Lasater – especially because my interest in yoga lies in its therapeutic benefits rather than treating it a substitute for an exercise program. It’s so heart warming that Judith’s daughter is chronicling the history of Yoga in America & Beyond by interviewing some of the “humble” giants; to me, the legends of who is who that made modern yoga what it is today in USA. Fitness or asana-centric yoga is superficial but I am not knocking it as we need that practice for sure – our body has to be fit and well-balanced to go the next step – if we have a harmonious body and mind, then, yes, we can go much much deeper. (Actually, even if you are disabled, injured or sick, you can do yoga and go much deeper … one need not be an acrobat or a gymnast or a dancer … it’s just beauty to behold what a trained body can ultimately do then … it changes …) The ultimate goal for yoga practice is not to get the toes to reach the back of the head in King Pigeon but spiritual – to attain that state where you can meditate which invites transformation within to that state where you need …nothing. Who can possibly meditate if one is sick or more common, distracted by desires and ego, dozing off or falling asleep or feeling weak and anxious and full of angst and busy thoughts. No, we don’t need to be enlightened. Just doing whatever possible … and that’s ENOUGH.
The legacy Lizzie honors here, I think is a national treasure …a treasure trove of knowledge accumulated by those teachers who spent decades learning and teaching yoga, many times traveling to India or inviting the great masters to learn with. These exceptional teachers are … really precious treasures …so I thought this month of September, apparently designated as National Yoga Month. Gratitude to these passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable teachers – there’s still so much to learn from them…and thank goodness Lizzie has enough sense to chronicle an oral history by doing these interviews with some of the modern day yogis here and around the world.
Thank you Lizzie – for honoring these exceptional teachers who has really worked tirelessly to spread the benefits of yoga and made it what it is today (a household fitness and health method embraced in the mainstream, especially once validated by the medical community) and carrying on the torch. It takes passion, dedication and deep curiosity you must have inherited from we know who:)
