The impossible becomes possible

Reading from Tuesday, April 21, 2015 yoga class

From the book, "Health, Healing, and Beyond" by T.K.V.Desikachar

"Yoga is a word from Sanskrit.  The word derives from the root yuj, which has two traditional, complementary meanings. The first is "to bring two things together, to meet, to unite."  The second meaning: "to converge the mind."  The simplest example from daily life is driving a car.  We regulate the gas pedal, turn the steering wheel, while simultaneously keeping (it is hoped) our concentration on the traffic and pedestrians around us.  Various movements come together and converge with our attention.  Champion racing drivers are likely to be among those familiar with moments in a "state of Yoga," even if they might not call it that.

Another meaning may be even more important: "to reach a point we have not reached before."  Something that is impossible at this moment becomes possible through Yoga.  Today, I sit on the floor and can barely stretch my legs in front of me.  After several weeks of practice, I may be able not only to sit erect, but to stretch and bend forward easily, with knees straight, reaching toward my toes.  In stages, the impossible becomes possible.