Some of you remember this line from Joni Mitchell’s song, The Circle Game. She playfully, and wisely, describes the seasons of our lives as going ‘round and ‘round. As Yogis, we bring awareness to this in our daily practices, observing how our needs and our goals shift over the years.
The ancient Yogis described the Stages of Life, known as Ashramas. There are four:
  • the Student stage (age 0-24)
  • the Householder (24-48)
  • the Forrest dweller (48-72)
  • the Renunciate (72-120)
While the ages for each stage may not be set in stone, nor are many of us these days headed out to the woods at 50, there is an innate wisdom here: our goals, and thus needs and actions, change as we age.
On some level this is obvious! Yet the Yogis ask us to consider over time: who am I? what is my purpose, now? The inherent intention is to live by a clear framework that is at once fulfilling and leads to individual, societal, and I might add, ecological, harmony. We are meant to ponder and follow what each stage is meant to teach us and how to best realize our path or dharma at each phase.
Some essential Inquiries:
  • What are our childhood and student years designed to awaken in us? What habits am I setting?
  • As we create a home for our family — whatever that may look like— what can I intentionally be building, in service to others?
  • As I move from supporting a growing family towards retirement how can I simplify? What inner, contemplative practices are superseding former ones? What can I offer out to this world?
  • And as I choose to detach from worldly things, what am I ready to let go off? What things and ties will I leave to free the way for liberation? And, what will I leave behind?
Having been initiated into Yoga at 16, I have certainly watched my practice morph over the years! As with all things, looking back it seems like a clear and straight path. But honestly, in the 80s as I chose a quiet, community-focused yoga at Integral Yoga while a dancer in New York, it was because it was soothing- I wasn’t thinking about being a part of an established tradition and learning how to be a contributing member. Or choosing the Iyengar tradition later as my performance-weary body needed symmetry and order— but so did my life. Later I did a deep dive into Astanga, traveling to India to study with my then teacher. And staying with each school and dedicating to a teacher for many years, further grounded me in discipline and mentorship. Now as I let go of some practices — sometimes reluctantly! — and embrace newer, deeper, and quieter ones, I hope that I can be a model for my younger students. The discipline and goals are the same, though the practice itself changes.
And what is that goal?
To aim my efforts towards a simple truth:
I, like each and every one of us, am part of a glorious expression that we call life; and we are meant to fully express our own dharma, our path, to make this carousel a little bit brighter.