A Joyful Practice

[Yet Another] REMINDER & EXCERPT: “Practice Responsibly” (the “missing” Sunday post) July 26, 2026

Peace, blessings, and hydration!

This “missing” (and backdated) compilation post for Sunday, July 26^th, includes new and revised/re-purposed content, as well as an excerpt. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra        (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

Yoga Sūtra 1.1: atha yogānuśāsanam

— “Here, now, at this auspicious moment, [having been prepared according to the ancient traditions] begins the instruction of Yoga.”

We begin every practice by getting centered and grounded in the present moment. We sit. We breathe. We rinse and repeat. For many, this is not only how they were introduced to yoga; this is the majority of what they know about yoga. However, every once in a while, I think it is good to remember that your introduction to yoga was the beginning of your yoga practice; but, not the beginning of Yoga.

Hatha yoga, the physical practice of yoga (regardless of style or tradition), is a combination of āsana (“seat” or pose) and prāṇāyāma (awareness of breath, extension of breath). It is the way in which many people in the modern world are introduced to yoga. However, neither element is the beginning of the Yoga Philosophy. Āsana is the third limb, prāṇāyāma is the fourth limb. The practice of one leads to the other and the combined practice leads to the last four limbs: pratyāhāraḥ (“sense withdrawal”), dhāraṇā (“focus [on a single point]”), dhyāna (“concentration”), samādhiḥ (“[deep or perfect] meditation”). Here, again, one leads to the other and the combined practice leads to a plethora of abilities and overall wellbeing.

But, before all of that, there are ethical components. Even if you have never heard of them — and even if they are never explicitly stated during a practice — there is no yoga (“union”) without the first two limbs. Now, to be clear, you don’t necessarily need to know how the 5 external restraints and the 5 internal observations are laid out in the Yoga Sūtras; because, when you come to the mat, you bring a moral compass. This moral compass is based on ethics and values that may have been given to you in the form of commandments, precepts, sunnah, hadith, (secular) laws, and/or house rules. Either way, you bring it all to the mat and your values guide your behavior.

You may think of your values as being specific to a particular culture, religion, and/or philosophy; but, it turns out that some things are “universal” — and practicing without these values is irresponsible.

For Those Who Missed It: The following is a revised version of the 2025 reminder. Some date-related information, links, and formatting have been updated/added.

Yoga Sūtra 2.30: ahimsāsatyāsteyabrahmcaryāparigrahā yamāh

— “Non-violence (or non-harming), truthfulness, non-stealing, walking in awareness of the highest reality, and non-possessiveness (or non-hording) are the restraints (or universal commandments).”

Yoga Sūtra 2.31: jātideśakālasamayānavacchinnāh sārvabhaumā mahāvratam

— “[The five restraints] are not affected by class, race, ethnicity, place, time, and circumstance. They are universal and become a great vow.”

During the 2025 Saturday practices, we started working our way through two (2) courses outlined by B. K. Iyengar (b. 12/14/1918). Today (July 26^th) is the anniversary of the birth of Sri Pattabhi Jois (b. 1915) — and a great opportunity to look at the differences and similarities between the two practices, as well as investigate why we do what we do on the mat. [Spoiler Alert: Since it is Dà shǔ (大暑, “Great heat” or “Major heat”) on the traditional Chinese calendar, this practice also features a little Yin Yoga.]

However, there is an elephant in the room. It has been here the whole time and it’s on a rampage. It would be irresponsible of me not to mention it. So….

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.*

FTWMI: Practice Responsibly

*NOTE: The post excerpted above contains references to teachers and spiritual leaders behaving badly and abusing their power.

“I was far more hurt by the culture of silence and ignoring the victim and victim-blaming than the abuse itself. If there would’ve been support from the community, and it had been dealt with, it would have gone away.”

— Anneke Lucas, founder of Liberation Prison Yoga, quoted in The New Yorker (07/23/2019) about confronting Sri Pattabhi Jois

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04192020 Noticing Things”]

NOTE: Each playlist is actually two playlists and you can decide which one you use. You can start with Track #1, Track #11 (for the least breaks on either platform), or start with Track #12, #13, or #14 for a slightly psychedelic experience. Track #14 on the Spotify is self-contained.

“Throw the baby out with the bathwater (or more accurately das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten) is a German proverb that dates to 1512. It was first recorded by Thomas Murner in his satire Narrenbbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools), in which he uses it as a chapter title. Murner uses the phrase several times in his chapter and the original manuscript even has a woodcut of a woman tossing a baby out with the wastewater.”

— quoted from Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton

Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or need a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!

September 25 — 27, 2026

### “HOW YOU DO YOGA, IS HOW YOU DO LIFE” ###