Yoga is an Internal Practice : The Rest is Just a Circus

A Day of Ashtanga from Nicole Alvarez on Vimeo.

Maharaja reminded me this morning , as I did service for him , that the physical practice of yoga is just 1 miniscule component of the Ashtanga Yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita. This was great wisdom from him on Janmashtami. I bring this up as teachers I practice Ashtanga Yoga with , Jorgen C. & Eddie S. , have a spiritual aspect to their shalas & teaching styles. However , I can still feel during class , those with somewhat advanced physical practices , that have not transcended the baser elements ; their energies tinged & emanating with the smugness of a Cirque du Soleil performer. As Guruji had said , " Yoga is an Internal Practice. The rest is just a Circus . " There is liberation in breaching the unexplored physical & mental boundaries of the practice , but it is the "yuj" or union that is its rasa. Hari Om Tat Sat. Thanks to Nicole Alvarez for documenting " A Day of Ashtanga Yoga " @ Evolution Movement Centre in Aix-en-Provence.