Dedication & Survival

The city of New York is fierce... terrifying as it is awe-inspiring. The pace and rhythm is pushing me to my edge, and my goal right now is purely survival. There are such tremendous expectations and responsibilities that I have placed upon myself that it seems insurmountable.

My yoga practice teaches me how to keep a high vision, to make progress in reasonable strides and to remain steadfast. On mornings like this, I have immense reverence for my practice... it is my sanctuary. It reconnects me to the source of self-nourishment and to the journey of the heart. This morning, I left my roles, responsibilities and obligations at the door... I did not bring them into the practice space because in that room, on my mat, I am creating a sanctuary.

Within that sanctuary, I reveal my heart's deepest longing without obstruction from any conditions or externalities. I am free to express myself from a deeper place, to listen openly to whatever feelings and thoughts arise, and to roam near the hub of all sacred places... where my intentions gain tremendous inertia. I asked my students to do the same... to leave their worldly affairs at the door, to clear the container, and to sanctify this space.

Afterwards, it all becomes so clear. My lifestyle choices have created an environment in which I rely upon my practice for survival, and that reliance transmutes into a dedication that is unparalleled. It is the kind of dedication that arises out of pure necessity.