Yoga is Free

As we celebrate American Independence Day, I’ve been pondering the freedom of Yoga and how we could celebrate that this week too.
 
One of the Sanskrit words for freedom is moksha. It has several meanings including emancipation, liberation, freedom, release. In the yogic tradition, it is said that practicing yoga leads to moksha. Have you ever experienced freedom while in a yoga pose, while meditating or practicing a breath exercise? In other words, freedom in the body, mind, emotions or breath? I know I have, and in those moments I had a physical and mental experience of liberation and release.
 
But Yoga is free in another way—it doesn’t cost anything to practice yoga. I know, there is always someone trying to make a buck off of yoga. Full disclosure, I do too because Yoga is not only my path in life but also my livelihood. I pay for yoga trainings too when I study with my teachers. Yes, we should compensate our yoga teachers to support their work and express gratitude for the beautiful way they share the tradition with us.
 
I believe that my role as a teacher is to empower others to recognize the wisdom that already exists within them. I may have a way of teaching or sharing the wisdom of Yoga that connects with others, but then ultimately each person has to internalize the tradition and make it their own. No outer teacher can do that for us; we must make friends with our own inner teacher.
 
And that is what makes Yoga totally and absolutely free! You are free to take it or leave it; to choose some practices and not others; to believe the philosophy or not; and especially, to practice on your own free of charge in your home, your car, at work or in the park.
 
How will you celebrate freedom this week?