Devotion

The Ashtanga Yoga opening chant begins:

Vande gurūṇāṃ caraṇāravinde

I bow to the lotus feet of the Gurus 

Devotion cultivates an attitude of love and surrender. When we bring our hands together in Anjali mudra (the prayer position), and bow our heads, we acknowledge the possibility of a wisdom greater than our everyday thinking. This simple gesture invites us to stay open and willing, invoking space for the mysterious and unknown.  

“Guru” means teacher. Our mother, father or primary care givers are our first teachers. The lineage of wisdom seekers stretching back into eternity are our teachers. A Guru sheds light and illuminates shadows, encouraging us to face, acknowledge and understand the different parts of ourselves. Over time, our yoga practice leads us toward our inner guidance which is ultimately - our truest teacher. Through self-knowledge there is the potential for us to make better choices and to ease suffering – our own and others.

Devotion can be a challenging concept. It may come with pre-associations of God, religion, dogma, disempowerment, and so forth. How can we move beyond any limiting associations to find something that is personally meaningful to us? In the practice of yoga, devotion is often expressed through the breath, which serves as an archetype of spirit or life-force. The breath is something all sentient beings share; the first thing we do when we enter the world is inhale, and the last thing we do when we leave is exhale. Regardless of age, race, gender, politics, religion, sexual orientation, or even species, we are all interconnected through the breath. The energy of the breath is ever-present, both within us and around us in nature and the elements.

The English word 'spirit' comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning 'breath'. In Chinese medicine, 'Chi' (or 'Qi') represents the Archetype of Spirit, which translates as 'breath'. In Hinduism, life-breath is called 'prana'. The Israelite scriptures also speak of 'Ruah' (breath) in creation, which is translated into Greek as 'Pneuma' and into English as 'Spirit'.

In Ashtanga Yoga, the practice is breath-based—each movement follows the breath, and the breath count is specific. This connection to breath within the practice is designed to link us to a universal energy and wisdom, should we choose to open ourselves to it.

When we practice with devotion, we activate the higher energy of our psychological, emotional, and physical self. This not only elevates our own energy but also influences the environment around us. Over time, this consistent practice transforms the space into one that feels purposeful and supportive. While the physical space remains the same—usually four walls, a floor, a ceiling, and some windows—it becomes sacred through our intention and commitment. The ancient yoga texts recommend practicing daily, in the same space, at the same time, allowing the energy of our sadhana (spiritual practice) to build and strengthen so that it can sustain us. Initially, we put our energy into the space, and with time, that energy begins to return to us. My own practice has shown me that even on days when I don’t feel like practicing, simply walking myself to my practice space allows the energy I’ve cultivated there to meet me, calm me, and inspire me. My job is simply to show up.

In a shared space such as ours where our collective devotional energy is cultivated almost daily its fortitude is magnified. This is why a newcomer, who has never done ashtanga yoga before, can enter the room and immediately feel calmer, less distracted and moved in a way they can’t quite articulate. They can’t put their finger on it, but they know something special has happened, and they want to come back.  Sound familiar?

I invite you to invoke devotion to your practice.