Random Ramblings of a Reluctant Blogger

So there it comes. Yet another International Yoga Day. And as usual many posts and pictures will soon be flooding the social media. Facebook, dutifully as it is wont to do, just reminded me this morning of an old savasana post and added that I upload a recent one for its then and now feature. I am reluctant, afterall one savasava is as good as the other.

That being said, I wish to categorically state that I have nothing whatsoever against Yoga, nor its wide acceptance, the marketing aspect notwithstanding. That it certainly contributes to a healthy lifestyle can never be understated. This, though, is not about yoga’s effectiveness but my dalliance with it.

In fact, my tryst with yoga began very early on. I had just about entered my teens, when one fine summer I was rocked by thunderous rounds of laughter. Being summer holidays, waking up early was a joy. I looked out from my balcony to see a group of uncles and aunties dutifully throwing up their arms and belting out the laughter from deep inside. That was it and the next day I rolled up a mat (just to clarify there were no yoga mats then, and I don’t use one even now), and joined them.It was a breeze, given that I was a kid, flexibility was not an issue at all. I could have contorted my body any which way I could. With the vaccination over, my yoga practice was rolled up with the mat.

Except for a very, very few, we kids then weren’t unhealthy or obese. Exercise then was never required. Nor was there a need for a sustained yoga practice.

My next round of yoga awareness started with Doordarshan sometimes in the late eighties. With various gurus imparting their knowledge. Yoga had then started catching some eyeballs. (For some not because of just yoga!).

My interest piqued again and I hitched on to the yoga bandwagon. However, through the various asanas I realised I was pretty much as flexible and dextrous as I was as a kid. Naturally then a few weeks later the yoga mat was rolled up again.

Then, somewhat in my mid-forties my tummy decided to assert its growing influence, which I wanted to contain. I soon resorted to some serious yoga sessions. The results were quick and stunning. And that’s where I realised, what comes easily goes easily. My yoga had become a start and stop routine. A few weeks of diligent and dedicated workout and months of nothingness.

I learnt then that there are types of yoga practitioners – the regular ones, the occasionals and the once-in-blue-moon ones. While I cannot say anything about the regulars, I can vouch for the other two. I feel the ease with which one can restart and notice the immediate effectiveness acts as a speed breaker on the yoga highway. I do not infer anything here against the regulars. It is just that some habits can pass the 21-day test and yet fail it. And one should not judge a person’s doggedness, discipline or intent based on their yoga routine.

I am about to restart, maybe get some inspiration from regulars, but first I need to post this. Afterall, these days, to be seen and heard is as good, if not better, as doing it.