Honestly.

"Yoga is not a philosophy to be followed with blind faith. In the beginning, it is true that confidence and trust are necessary, but as you continue to practice, every step will bring more and more hope, greater and greater confidence. If we are true Yogis for just one day, we will be transformed and want more of it." Satchidananda from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

What the hell is a "true Yogi?"

I took class for the first time in 8 days. It was okay. I don't think I laughed as much as the teacher wanted me to. Disappointment abounds because I'm realizing that I'm not as strong as I used to be. Or as flexible. Or as interested in my practice. I've been here before and I trust that this line of thinking will dissolve into a more awake, compassionate way of being. That may be true in the future, but what about the satyam, the truthfulnes, of right now? The truth is I'm bored, annoyed and lazy when it comes to Yoga these days. The truth is I'm other things, too: grateful, reverent, patient. The latter way of thinking is uplifting, though, and I'm too tired to fight the gravity of the former.

If the gray days of fall in New York City are making you as cranky as they are making me, I hope you don't think there's something wrong with your practice. We're being given something to work with and to work on. Our muscles strengthen when they encounter resistance. Won't the same thing happen to our faith in Yoga as it faces the opposition of a whiny mind?