One Hundred Words
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 9:26AM I recently undertook the exercise of writing what yoga means to me in 100 words. It was a meaningful exercise. The constraint of 100 words helped distill the truth. I thought I would share it with you. Maybe some of you will write your "yoga bio" and share it.
Yoga began for me as the respite from the physical celebration of performance. I was a musical theatre actor in New York City. Life in the theatre requires fortitude: demeaning auditions, eight shows a week, strained vocal cords. Yoga replenished me.
My father died, I left New York, I married and had my beautiful son, all in short time. Yoga is now a celebration of all my life, integrating both the physical and ethereal into a higher form of self-expression.
Yoga is no longer a respite but a daily devotion, and the place where I choose to imagine my life.
(100 words)
Reader Comments (11)
This is a great test of fortitude as well- trying to keep concise with our thoughts and words- bravo!
Very nicely put, Boo. How amazing that the number 100 has had such an impact on our lives as of late!! :)
I applaud your ability to contain all that is yoga to you, in 100 words since I know it is so much more. You definitely have inspired me to dig deeply and find my 100.
This was beautiful Marylee--you have inspired me. And I connect totally with the self-expression part--my life is so left brain--yoga provides a place where I can be creative. Love you sweety! Jen
Marylee, I envy you, I wish I could write, well and sing, and do yoga- your amazing!
I know this one was probably the most challenging one for you! Trying to write about yoga in 100 words. But, once again you have pulled it off. Great blog ML.
YOGA
You have lead the way for fewer words, Consider this as an acronym.
Y- Yield ( to overcome)
O - Order (to find direction)
G - Grow ( a stage or process)
A - Assimalate ( to understand, or transform)
Life is a journey, welcome the opportunity to learn on the path. How lovely for me to witness you grow.
Yoga is my journey home to myself. It's the realization that everything that matters is right here, right now, and that everything is always okay right here in the now. It is the dropping of time, the tying of heaven to earth, of my root to my crown. Yoga is the unifying of everything my confused mind thinks is separate, lacking, hurried or scared. It is the Great Mother cradling me and the Great Father challenging me -- both just wanting me to be more me. Yoga is my journey home to myself.
I really admire Marylee's dedication and insight into helping your mind and your body. Her passion for Yoga is just one of the many attributes that have given me more insight into life and the world around me. Her commitments to her family, friends, and Yoga students seem to complement one another rather than detract, which is one of the lessons of Yoga that she teaches.
This is what Yoga is! It changes the attitude, approch, and even perception.
Wow...
Beautiful thought... You explained the real meaning yoga and yoga practice.