{"id":26419,"date":"2013-12-17T16:53:29","date_gmt":"2013-12-17T14:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/12\/reflections-on-a-yoga-festival\/"},"modified":"2013-12-17T16:53:29","modified_gmt":"2013-12-17T14:53:29","slug":"reflections-on-a-yoga-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/reflections-on-a-yoga-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on a Yoga Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I find myself in the picturesque little town of Greyton in the Western Cape. Its situated at the foot of the Overberg mountains and we, over the course of three days, have been blessed with both sunshine \u2013 allowing us to bask in its powerful, yet soothing rays-\u00a0 and rain, breaking the heat and allowing relief to yogis and nature alike. We \u201cget it\u201d more here \u2013 we are all connected.<\/p>\n

The Yoga Sanga festival (sanga meaning \u201cgathering\u201d) is just that \u2013 a glorious and joyous gathering of about 200 yogis \u2013 a term used loosely for people who love yoga: yoga asana, yoga philosophy, yoga clothes, yoga \u2018lingo\u2019, yoga attitude \u2013 or lack thereof. That is always the first thing that strikes me at a gathering of yogis \u2013 the openness and acceptance of whatever or wherever you\u2019re at. Here it is cool not to judge, or be opinionated, or care too much what anyone else does. It\u2019s liberating to be free, even if only for a few days \u2013 from the prison we create from other people\u2019s opinions.<\/p>\n

I have been fortunate enough to find myself in such gatherings on numerous occasions in various countries around the world. The similarities in topics of conversation in all of these communities are uncanny: \u201cI just love the energy here\u201d; \u201cyour aura is so pure\u201d; \u201cI have an energy block in one of my chakras that I\u2019m working on right now\u201d \u2013 all of these met with affirmative and empathic nods.<\/p>\n

Here too I came across \u2018the animal\u2019 conversations: \u201cThe mosquitoes are annoying, but in the spirit of ahimsa (non-violence) I wouldn\u2019t dare to swat them\u201d (followed by a nervous and slightly irritated giggle); \u201cI have my toes and fingers crossed that my cat will be okay when I take her on holiday. I give her homeopathic drops to try to ease her stress\u201d (of going on holiday? Yeah, man, its a dog\u2019s life isn\u2019t it!?).<\/p>\n

The food conversations are endless: \u201cAre the wraps gluten and\/or dairy free?\u201d Asked at the one and only food stall, serving the entire festival with two people manning the stand. Needless to say the question was met with: \u201cNo but its made of eureka wheat (Who knows what that is? I probably didnt even spell it right!) so you\u2019ll be fine\u201d (Obviously); \u201cI\u2019m vegetarian \u2013 kind of\u2026 I only eat animals with 2 feet or less\u201d (i.e chicken and fish).<\/p>\n

Not everyone seems to adopt the yogi principles voluntarily: \u201cI\u2019m not allowed coffee or beer and I can\u2019t eat meat\u2026.my life is pretty miserable right now\u201d \u2013 begrudgingly whispered by the husband whose wife thinks he\u2019s about to willingly convert to the yoga life; and even devout yogis miss a beat sometimes: \u201cI can\u2019t believe I left my gratitude journal at home\u201d (shock and horror on faces all round). The true Cape Tonian yogi exclaims to sympathetic listeners: \u201cI ran out of dishwashing liquid and was mortified as I can only get my brand at Wellness Warehouse!\u201d (Even if supermarkets were open on Sunday the 15th of December \u2013 Wellness Warehouse is three hours drive away and it wouldn\u2019t be environmentally friendly to drive that distance for dishwashing liquid.) Thoughtful bunch us yogis are!<\/p>\n

Me commenting on these yogi-isms is really tongue in cheek and it is said with the kindest of hearts because while they are amusing in their own right, from what I have observed, they are said with the purest of hearts and intentions and that in itself is so refreshing. It really is true, that in this beautiful enviornment \u2013 and with that I am not referring only to the breathtaking scenery- you do feel free, relaxed, released, and content. With the constant awareness around your breath and constant stretching and opening in your physical body there is little room for tension or stress. It is almost frigthening when one realises how much time we spend stressed and in a state of tension \u2013 in complete ignorance.<\/p>\n

In this environment you are constantly reminded of the amazing and beautiful being that is your true nature. In fact it is enough to bring me to tears when I think how we beat ourselves and others up- day in and day out \u2013 survival of the fittest, right? There is an immediate sense of \u2018ease\u2019 of \u2018coming home\u2019 when we can rest in the knowledge and awareness that our true nature is that of pure love, and eternal peace\u2026and that is about it. When we embody that which we truly are \u2013 our world becomes beautiful, restful, calm and easy. The tension, pain, and discomfort takes over because we are constantly engaged in an inner struggle \u2013 fighting our true nature.<\/p>\n

So the yoga sanga has revived my sense of connectedness with the Divine. It has breathed a sense of calm back into me, knowing that I can go with the flow of life at ease with the fact that whatever is, is perfect. Yoga is so much more than what you do on the mat. Yes, the physical postures on the mat provides a symbolic platform for the challenges or even the \u2018battleground\u2019 that life can present as for us, most of the time. It also provides immense insight into how we deal with ourselves and others in this battleground. Most importantly though it prepares you to approach the battleground in a different way: to know that both pleasure and pain will come AND go (whether you seek it or try to avoid it) and, we have a choice in what we hold on to (and how long for) and what we let go of. Most things are more bearable, manageable and tolerable when you meet it with a deep breath, and when that brings you right into the moment \u2013 you really are free from your anxieties of tomorrow and chains from yesterday.<\/p>\n

Life is better, NOW.<\/p>\n

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