The primary reason I follow the yoga path has not changed in 15 years since I first committed to it.

It is to find peace.

Yoga is more than poses (asana) and includes meditation. A useful metaphor to explain the relationship between the two is that the body is the horse and the mind is its rider. Asana calms the body and meditation calms the mind. Uneasiness in either affects the other, but taming the horse first, works well for me to calm the mind.

So, I am a yogi. One day I may not need the asana in order to meditate, but for now, I do.

I am pursuing study with the Tergar Institute of meditation techniques a feature of which is to achieve Samatha on Loving Kindness. Alan Wallace presents the personal benefits of this, which I have devised a verse to reflect:

I sleep in comfort

I wake in comfort

I am dear to human beings

I am dear to non-human beings

Fire, poison and weapons do not affect me

My mind is easily concentrated

My face expresses serenity

I will die unconfused.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful?