I sometimes find myself wanting to be farther ahead in my yoga practice than I currently am. I sometimes think, “If only I had more time for practicing postures, doing breathing exercises, meditating, chanting, journalling, studying,” and so on. But with a young family and a household to run, the picture I have in my mind is not entirely realistic. And so, I remind myself that the best yoga practice for me right now is to practice acceptance: To accept where I am in my life. To accept that I must pass through the stages one by one, to joyfully take on the tasks of each stage, to learn my lessons at each stage.
It is like progressing in a yoga posture. We reach the body in a certain direction, but without straining, always accepting our current limits. This is the practice: not to make the posture “picture perfect”, but to perform it within our ability to do so, balancing both effort and ease. I do this when I practice my yoga postures. I don’t strain for picture-perfect; I know the perfection lies in this inner balance between effort and ease. Now my challenge is to transfer this same approach to my everyday life.
These musings have reminded me of the ancient yogic teachings about the four ashramas, or stages of life.
From birth to 25 years, we are in the student stage of life, developing self-discipline and educating ourselves (brahmacharya).
From 25-50, we are in the householder stage, starting and supporting a family (grihastha).
From 50-75, we enter into the retired life, gradually passing on our possessions and responsibilities to the next generation (vanaprastha).
From 75 to 100, we may take on the renounced life, leaving family and home to focus on spiritual growth and to prepare for our passing (sannyasa).
The Byrds share a similar message in their song “Turn, turn, turn”:
For everything
There is a season
And a time to every purpose under Heaven
And in my own words: may we remember to “reach without straining”!