The Mirror of Yoga


The Mirror of Yoga is a feast for the hearts of sincere students of yoga. Richard Freeman's depth of knowledge and love for yoga overflows on each page. His writing reflects his work on The Yoga Matrix. The clear, soft-spoken tone full of fragments of wisdom seep quietly, part by part, that reading and re-reading (or listening) to his words become almost necessary.

The book is divided into nine parts. The first three parts talk about yoga tradition, the integration of body and mind, and the process of Hatha yoga through āsana and prānāyāma. The next chapters talk about Yoga philosophy with focus on the presentation of Sānkhya philosophy and the buddhi, the Bhagavad Gītā, Tantra and the Yoga Sūtra. The last chapter contains beautiful reminders on how to apply yoga and gently confront our own limited preconceptions to truly deepen our practice.

It might be helpful to already have a flavor of yoga philosophy prior to reading the book. Or not. Richard Freeman explains these in the most accessible way, as a student and a teacher who understands from long years of experience and study. His message is strong and vibrant, straightforward, wise, humbling, and inspiring. There is a definite softness that lends itself from a place of respect and maturity.

What might be a prerequisite for this book, though, is to have a sincere intention to practice yoga and to have an open heart for what yoga is, certainly beyond the physical aspect. This is not a book about anatomical alignment for each pose. There are no secret techniques and adjustments. We are encouraged to use our awareness and intelligence through our breath and bodies. The beauty of the book lies in explaining the subtleties and inner work that yoga ultimately entails.

The book title is apt. It is able to reflect yoga from various angles and is able to gently urge us to look deeper into our understanding of yoga, our own practice, at our relationships and ourselves.
This is a wonderfully written book from a much loved teacher.


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Just some quotes from the first few chapters...

Your perception of the simplest sensation or the most ordinary everyday experience can take you to unlimited depth, and this is truly where the heart of yoga is revealed.

Yoga reveals itself when we allow our senses, our intelligence, and our bodies to unfold free of a self-image or any sort of goal or motivation.

Within the yoga tradition the body is identified as our means of practice, our instrument of perception, and our medium for perceiving reality; we know the world through our bodies

...a true yoga posture occurs when meditation flows ceaselessly and spontaneously, implying that yoga asanas encourage integration of body and mind. An asana practice does not torture the body physically, nor does it cause distraction of the mind; instead, asana invites more and more refinement when approached internally. A mindful, concentrated quality of attention is used to create a dynamic, aligned fom, and the same focus of mind is used to observe the subtleties that arise throughout the body.

We find that when we do yoga asana and pranayama, this balance naturally occurs, and at the end of a good practice there is a sense of internal balance.

When you practice non-exotic yoga, everyday yoga - looking deeply at the ordinary experience, becoming more honest and more kind - there is a great sense of relief.

...yoga can be summed up as one simple practice: that of observing what is actually happening in the present moment.

We are compelled by whatever reason to come to the mat and begin a practice. Exactly what has brought us to yoga, precisely what our intentions are in terms of the practice, and what we actually do once we are on the mat are variables that are completely different person to person and often day to day for any one of us.


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Post Script

As I will not be able to attend Richard Freeman's sessions in Yoga Thailand this month, this book is the next best thing. The language is deeply familiar and the text is close to my heart. My dear teachers speak of, teach, and nurture these pieces of wisdom with the same care, fervor, and attention. I try as well to share them in my own capacity.

I continue to savor the words. The past days since the full moon have given me thoughts about this (still relatively) new phase in life, dedicated to Yoga. The days have been busier with my own practice, studying, preparing for classes and teaching, preparing for journeys and projects, attempts at writing. Of course, nurturing relationships does not stop.

On and off the mat, the practice has been quietly intense as I struggle with my routine or, sometimes, the lack of it. There is no 13-hour work day to excuse myself. I breathe this in everyday now, happily, thankfully, and very, very carefully.

There is so much to learn and re-learn, to do and undo. Everyday seems like an unraveling of sorts. It's nothing short of miraculous, really.