Why now is the perfect time to practice yoga

Yoga Sutra 1.1 + practice ideas for staying present

Photo by Chelsea Gates on Unsplash

Sutra 1.1: Now, the teaching of yoga begins.

~From Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

This is the first installment of my series on applying the wisdom of the Yoga Sutra from a mother’s perspective.

Tell me: When do you feel most present in your life? Let me know in the comments below!

The presence principle

Be present. That’s all Patanjali wants you to do. If you stop reading the Yoga Sutra after this first aphorism, you’ll walk away with a foundational yoga teaching. Apply it and transform your life.

The first word in the Yoga Sutra is “atha” in Sanskrit. “Atha” translates to “now,” but it also has a more spiritual implication. TKV Desikachar explains in The Heart of Yoga that the word “atha” is also a blessing or a prayer. You are now embarking on a new learning exploration, and, although it will be difficult at times, Patanjali wishes you good luck.

Now’s spirit also implies devotion. Practitioners often turn to yoga because something in their past brought them to their mat, cushion, text, or teacher in the first place. Sutra 1.1 is like an intellectual waiver.

Now, the teaching of yoga begins. By beginning this practice, you acknowledge you are ready.

By entering into a relationship with yoga practice, you are agreeing to live by its principles. You acknowledge it won’t be easy, your problems won’t suddenly vanish after practicing for three months, and there will be times when you find yourself challenged physically, mentally, emotionally, culturally, relationally, and spiritually. Regardless, you’re devoted to showing up and doing the work now, because you’re sick of the way things are or have been.

You are ready, even if you think you’re not. All you have to do is show up. You’ll be “bad” at yoga at first. You’ll definitely make mistakes. Sometimes, you’ll give up. It’s okay. The practice is still here for you, ready to embrace you now.

Now is always just beginning. It exists in this moment but it is also eternal. If you missed last week’s now, you can jump back in today.

You are ready, you can do this, and good luck!

Now, yoga begins

Yoga begins in every moment. If you take the word “teaching” out of Sutra 1.1, you get:

Now, yoga begins.

This simple mantra brings you back to a present-moment state in an instant.

There is no situation in your life when you can’t utter this phrase and it won’t apply. You roll out your mat in your toy-strewn living room? Now, yoga begins. You are about to go into labor? Now, yoga begins. Your mother just died? Now, yoga begins. You just lost your job? Now, yoga begins. The babysitter just cancelled five minutes before you were about to walk out the door? Now, yoga begins. You just took a breath? Now, yoga begins.

What if you trained yourself to mentally recite “Now, yoga begins” every time your child whines about the banana you just gave them that they’ve been asking for incessantly and then suddenly decided they don’t want anymore? Consistently repeating this simple mantra has the capacity to bring about a seismic shift in your personal energy.

How presence has shown up in my life lately

One of my most popular articles to date here on Substack is My Least Favorite Yoga Teaching, where I wrote about how much I despise making washing dishes and other mundane, domestic activities part of my yoga practice.

I recently decided to give up childcare and be a “stay-at-home mom.” I debated whether this was the right decision for a long time even though I knew deep down something just didn’t feel right for almost the entire two years we’ve had au pairs. Only I can raise my children the way I want them to be raised.

Rather than sitting at my desk writing, planning, posting on social media to increase my online visibility, and sharing my work with the wider world all day long, I now play hot lava with my daughter, monster trucks with my son, and sit on the driveway drawing with chalk. I’ve been honest about not loving child’s “play”—I find it incredibly boring—but I had a realization recently that made me chuckle.

While basking in the autumn sun, enjoying a gorgeous, blue-bird sky, and watching my children happily play, I was able to be fully present in that moment. It felt glorious. Presence eludes me when I’m working. I get distracted by screens, research questions, emails, social media. The flow-state I sometimes enter when writing is a sub-category of presence that seeks efficiency and perfection—a presence judged by its output. In contrast, sitting outside with my kids has no purpose other than to be…present.

When I’m writing, teaching, or practicing yoga for work, it doesn’t check the “presence” box¹. On the other hand, despite its daily challenges, frustrations, and triggers, being with my kids presents me with endless opportunities to be. That is my yoga practice.

Since I was young I’ve dreamt I would be a high-powered, career woman. I’ve shunned being a “stay-at-home-mom” because it brings up so many cultural assumptions I abhor. I want to be powerful, valued, recognized, worthy, useful, a change-maker, a leader. I’ve never considered I already am all of those things, regardless of whatever title I place before or after my name.² I can best show up as my true self when I’m present.

More than anything, I want peace. It turns out I happen to find peace in the small moments at home with my kids. I am where I’m supposed to be right now, ambition be damned. This is presence in action.

Now, yoga begins.

Presence practices

For women, and mothers especially, being present requires that we are present for ourselves just as much as we are present for others. Prioritizing your own wellbeing is an integral part of the presence practice that often gets labeled as selfish. If you’re ignoring how you’re feeling, you’re not being present with your own needs and desires. Modeling presence to our kids includes taking time for ourselves to be the divine, peaceful, multi-dimensional beings we truly are. I promise you are not the frazzled, forgetful, spazball you think you are. You just have kids and live in a crazy world. Here are a few practices to help you get present and rediscover your true essence.

• Take a walk—no Airpods, podcasts, music, or phone calls. Just be with nature, in the moment.

• Sit outside. Stare at the clouds. Listen to the birds. You’ll experience extra nervous system magic if you’re near a mountain or body of water.

• Meditate. Experiencing now, even for a millisecond, is a balm to the soul. Don’t get frustrated if your mind keeps distracting you. Meditation practice takes…practice.

• Practice asana. Being fully attuned to your body is a wonderful way to get present. Just be advised the body stores infinite memories, imprints, emotions, and unconscious karmic patterns. Sometimes what we discover in the present moment is uncomfortable.

• Breathe. The breath is a powerful tool to reorient your entire body, mind, and soul to the present moment. Check out these breathing practices on Yoga for Women’s Wellbeing if you need inspiration or guidance: The only breath practice you need & Stay cool with this simple breath practice.

When do you feel most present in your life? What practices help facilitate presence for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Further reading on practicing presence

Elena Brower

’s recent piece on choosing now.

it's time

Kirsten Powers

’ reflections on how Italian culture is teaching her how to rest.

Italians Are Teaching Me About Rest

Lizzie Lasater

’s acknowledgement that the present moment is often the very moment we’re trying to escape.

Yoga leaves no room for escape.

1. Anytime you find yourself checking a box, you’re not truly being present.

2. I want to fully acknowledge the deep privilege of being able to choose to stay home. So many women don’t get that choice. You can still practice presence by being where you are in the moment, even if that is not your ideal or preferred situation.