I like Semac. He is new to yoga, but has been coming to the Clinic like clockwork twice a week.  Follows up with a “thank you” text almost every time. He is a true blue all American old timer who drives an old volvo ’cause it just sat in his neighbor’s yard too long, so he bought it. He is new to yoga, but has been a yogi all his life, I get the sense. Yet because he is convinced of his newness, Semac is innocent enough about the practice – he just says it like it is: plain and honest.

Once after a particularly “twisted” class (we didn’t put our feet behind our ears – but I DID do Samikarana pranayama with them in 4 diagonal directions), there was a deafening silence for about 10 minutes. Each time – there is nothing left to say after. Except this time, Semac dropped it: “Well this was just kind of a pretzel yoga”.

Damn right, Semac. Because LIFE is a PRETZEL. But remember: YOU are NOT.

Each time we do this twisted yoga – we put ourselves into a sort of pretzel, so that we could find the pretzel hole – a space within that is not twisted, shrunk and contorted. A space within that’s free. And we breathe into that pretzel hole so we can expand it, increase our inner freedom. Sometimes we add a bind, an arm/leg balance – bit of “mustard” to give that pretzel flavor,  open up it’s taste.

Shiva is the pretzel hole: SPACE, One who holds everything in His vast embrace.
Shakti is the mustard: One who stimulates, challenges, creates, exists, changes,  moves – the CONTENT.

We are both: Shiva and Shakti. Some days, more like pretzel hole. Others – more like mustard.  But never the pretzel.
LIFE IS A PRETZEL. What are you today, Semac?