Now is the Time
The transition from one year to the next invites us to reflect on what happened in the year before, and set
intentions about the year to come. Such a practice encourages us to cultivate awareness in our lives: of things that
lift us up, of things that we can let go of. A moment to pause and reflect offers space to notice what is. The very
first sutra in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra reminds us that every moment is new, and that our yoga practice only exists in
the now.
PYS 1.1 Atha Yoganusasanam “Now, these are the teachings of yoga.”
Atha is said to be one of the most auspicious words in Sanskrit language and evokes a sense of power in the
moment of now. It serves as a reminder there is never a better moment than this one, however a particular
moment looks or feels at the time. Anusasanam refers to the teachings of yoga, that which we study. It’s an
invitation to embark on the journey to experience a union with all of life, a fullness in our hearts. Each moment we
have a choice: will we surrender to the process of our practice, or will we wait until some hypothetical later to unroll
the mat?
The Yoga Sutra will go on to give clues about how to guide our lives through a lens of practice so that we can
experience the fullness of life - our true potential. And it starts with now. We can only hope to move along our path
if we are willing to take one step forward and then another. Once the ball is rolling, our faith and confidence
increases, and it’s easier to take each step.
A year is such an interesting length of time, perhaps long and fleeting in equal measure. Consider the great epics
like Ramayana and Mahabharata, where teachings of dharma and yoga were classical interwoven... heroes
embarked on their quests for many years, often leaving behind the comfort of home at the drop of a dime, yet in
other seasons, many exciting or transformative things happened within the span of only a few weeks, months, or
one year. Stay open to what the next season has in store for you.
There is no way to know what amazing energy and potential will be revealed in your practice unless you do it. And
now is an amazing time to start. On the precipice of the new year, may we pause for renewal and proceed on
towards our destiny, whatever it may be. There’s never been a better time, and time is on our side!
