Living Yoga

Living Yoga: Practice On and Beyond Mat

What does it really mean to practice yoga? Does it require being on the mat every single day, or does it go beyond the physical—inviting us to look deeply within, to stay true to ourselves, and to navigate life’s challenges with steady, mindful steps?

The physical practice is a doorway. It helps focus the mind, builds consistency, and creates a regular rhythm of discipline. As the Yoga Sutra (1:14) reminds us: “Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and in all earnestness.” Transformation does not come instantly—it unfolds over years, through patience and commitment.

Consistency reinforces progress and prevents regression, but practice is more than repetition. It must be done with reverence and sincerity. Without love and respect for the process, yoga can feel like a burden rather than a joyful discipline.

But what if life prevents us from stepping on the mat? Does that mean we cannot practice yoga? Not at all. My teacher used to say that even a simple chore, such as washing the dishes, can be yoga if done with presence, love, and attention. When we feel the water running through our fingers or notice each gentle stroke of foam, such moments can soften the mind and bring us into peace.

Yoga, then, is not just movement. It is presence. It is devotion. It is the art of meeting each moment with awareness—whether we are standing in stillness, flowing through asanas, or simply washing the dishes.