When you think of the word ‘yoga,’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

It may be stretching, difficult poses, or flowing sequences, or maybe it’s tight pants, mats, or busy studios. But what is Yoga really about? This age-old practice that’s been around for thousands of years didn’t start with Lululemon, Instagram, or heated studios (believe it or not). The ancient Yogis weren’t balancing on one hand or putting their legs behind their heads. They didn’t wear expensive clothing or make funky playlists. So, what is Yoga, where did it come from, and how can we learn to live the yogic life in the 21st century?

I fell today. I was entering an arm balance pose that I’ve done hundreds of times before, and I hit my chin straight down onto my hard, stone-tiled floor. I cut my chin open and bruised my jaw, but once the bleeding stopped and the shock of the fall wore off, the most pain was felt on the inside, in my heart. My ego was injured more than anything. This wasn’t the first time I’ve fallen – I fall quite often, and once before it even landed me in the emergency room and left me with 5 stitches in my leg. But at least that pose was a new one for me, and a much more challenging one than today. Today I thought: How could I fall out of a pose from Primary Series which I’ve been doing for years with little effort? Am I just a bad yogi? Will I always be weak? Maybe I’m not meant to practice Ashtanga, a very physically demanding style of yoga. Why is it that the things you love the most often cause you the most pain?