Now, the teachings of yoga.

Earlier this year, I began investing time, money and energy in studying the yoga sutra with my teacher. While I had heard the first sutra before, it rang with clarity and potency when we met.

atha yoganusasanam

Larry Payne translates this as, “Let’s get ready to rumble.”

Stephen Batchelor translates this as, “Now, the teachings of yoga.”

Matthew Remski translates this as, “We all inquire into yoga.”

Now. Now. Now.

It was as if this word, “Now.” had rang the bell inside of me, waking me up to my life. The hour and a half that we spent together during that first sutra session, cracked me open and filled me up in a new way. With immediacy, I understood that being present to this moment, now, is all that matters. It is all that is there. We must begin here and now - moment after moment. I suppose Stephen Batchelor’s translation rang most clearly that day.

Matthew Remski’s remix of the sutras is steadily growing on me. I much appreciated his modern approach to the sutras and love, love, love that the word “inquire” is part of his translation of sutra I.1. To live in inquiry is totally my jam at the moment and for the first time in my life this doesn’t feel like a phase. I am beginning to feel committed to living my life with as much vitality, grace and presence as I can muster.