In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there is a list of “obstacles and distractions” we are likely to face when pursing the ongoing practice of yoga + meditation:

Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, false perception, failure to reach firm ground and slipping from the ground gained—these distractions of the mind-stuff are the obstacles.

Translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda (p. 77). Integral Yoga Publications. Kindle Edition.

Without going into great detail or scrutiny of each obstacle listed here I simply want to point out that the facing of these obstacles in no way means failure. It’s quite the opposite, I believe the Yoga Sutras tell us this list so that we can be fully prepared to face each one if we must. The obstacles are necessary and inevitable, they are not to be avoided!

Surely we don’t need to face each obstacle each day, but we should be prepared to. With practice we learn that what is easeful one day can become taxing the next. What IS that?! It’s life and it’s the very reason for practice. I have seen so many people fall off daily practice of yoga because of the last in this list, “slipping form the ground gained”. There is this (mis)belief that the more we practice the more we should progress, and so I see a lot of students become discouraged or doubtful when they stop making “progress”. All of my teachers have taught me that this is dangerous… As soon as we have expectations about how the practice makes us feel, or what it will be like, or how long it will take, or anything at all, we set ourselves up for a possibility of not meeting those expectations. NEWS FLASH: yoga + meditation practices are not ones you “finish”. While there are a million certifications and achievements out there, the practice of Yoga is one designed to outlive you in this lifetime. If you feel like it’s taking “too long” or you’re not moving “fast enough” I urge you to take practice.

For the first few years of my practice I struggled with “intention”. I low-key hated the idea that my practice was attached to something else. So I eventually let it go. My intention is PRACTICE; 99% of the time this is my focus and it has been the most liberating mind shift of my life. And guess what… it even applies off the mat.

The empowering part is I can cultivate words and mantra withing this container of practice. If my mind is feeling chaotic I can think of peace, shanti. If my body feels sluggish I can visualize some fire, agni. If my heart feels heavy I can fill it with light + love, samadhi. The practice is all fulfilling, and it’s eternal, and that’s the whole point.

So whether you practice every day, or you’ve never thought about “yoga practice” in your life, or maybe it’s been a lifetime sine your last practice… Here’s a little reminder, your practice lacks judgement. True practice exists in the spaces of empowerment, honesty, alignment, clarity and peace. It’s available in the blips between the chaos, and it’s possible when we practice it, again and again.

Practice ON, amigos!

Beginning, Again.
by Chrissy Lefavour

To begin again and again is the root of the philosophy behind “practice”. A lot of people think daily yoga and meditation requires a lot of discipline for daily practice, but my lineage of teachers believes otherwise. It doesn’t have to be about anything other than “practice”... No fancy intentions, no higher power, no science nor religion, the “practice” of Ashtanga Yoga as a complete 8 limbed system becomes really, really fun (and kind of challenging).

The first branch of 8 in Ashtanga Yoga leads with ahimsa or non-harming, non-violent. Upon first look it seems pretty straight forward. But what about harm caused to Planet Earth? What about unintentional harm caused to others? What about the choices you’re making daily for yourself? The inner dialogue? Self-talk? After ahimsa, a follow-up with satya, or truthfulness. Ok, sounds straightforward… Are you being true with deepest desires and daily commitments? Is truthfulness something that comes easy? Is it possible that your truth is different than someone else's? What is that??

Yoga and meditation practices not only allow us to show up, again and again, exactly as we are… This is actually encouraged!! At the foundation of practice is a sort of devotion towards the self. A daily investment if you will, in your real life, human potential, every s i n g l e day. And so for the Ashtanga yoga practitioner as I understand it, practice doesn’t always look like 90 minutes of prescribed + sweaty sequencing on a rubber mat, it often looks like daily care of self and others. It looks like creating community thru avenues of shared value and inclusivity. It looks like being kind to yourself, to others and to the planet at large.

I’ve been quoting the practice as “simple, not easy” for the past 2 years and it continues to ring true. It’s not easy to get up and love the choice for more practice, day after day. And so somedays I do it woefully, slowly, lazily, quietly, gently… but I still do it. I consider reading poetry practice, taking a nap with the cats = practice, writing, more practice, cooking and singing mantras to the ingredients, good practice! What if tomorrow we aren’t offered as many chances for practice?

I also think the word “practice” is important. Yes, sure there are postures and breaths and sequences of absolute mind blowing beauty and strength, but there are also individual minds + souls having unique and dynamic experiences on their mats. To know one person's practice could be the first and the person next to them might stop tomorrow is a wild part of this work. I see people who practice daily switch to zero daily practice, for any number of reasons, things happen! I see students dive into a solid routine, start to say things like “I’m finally really loving this practice” or “I FEEL AMAZING” and then a few months later go silent. I see students show up with a love/hate relationship to yoga, “my ex was a yoga teacher” or “I used to practice yoga” or “they made me come”.

Students show up because they are injured, divorcing, battling addictions, recently relocated, seeking daily practice, safe community, and a place to breathe. Being able to connect with my community online has seriously kept more doors open than it has closed. I am GRATEFUL everyday to call this practice my work. And I thank you for taking the chance to begin again, and again. May all beings be peaceful and at ease. Om shanti shanti shanti.

I am thankful to all my teachers and the ones who specifically came to mind as I was writing this are: Kathy McNames, David Williams, David Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch and Bill Barry. Eternal Gratitude. THANK YOU!

Written June 6, 2025.

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On taking "too long"...

Beginning. Again.