No matter how much you know about yoga, and no matter how much you understand it, the trick is in committing yourself to its regular practice. Before breakfast and dinner, postures followed by breathing followed by meditation. And so on, and so forth. Every day without fail. For weeks, months, years unending. That is the gist of yoga. That is the “yoke” in its mythical Sanskrit translation that you must accept for your knowledge and understanding to make any difference in your life. Once regular practice is established, yoga will lead you to real knowledge and understanding. As well as to enlightenment. Eventually. By the way, dear reader, I am not talking to you. Rather, I am hollering to my own self.

Addendum I (October 27, 2007)

Last night I had another talk with myself on the delicate matter of regular yoga practice. Just before I went to sleep, I repeated all the arguments in its favor. This time around, I did not holler, though. I was quite gentle in tone, but I did not mince my words. “If you keep going like this,” I repeated a few times with growing zeal, “you will only keep getting older.” In the end, a breakthrough of sorts came to pass. “Okay,” I relented at last, “this winter is the best time to establish regular practice.” The only thing that remains to be agreed is when the winter actually begins. Should it be the Winter Solstice? But would it not be a bit more practical to start a day or two after New Year’s? At any rate, the worst is now over. I will settle the exact date with myself sooner or later. You are my witness, dear reader.

Addendum II (December 6, 2007)

The day has been set at last. It is in my calendar already. And in red. Exactly a month from now, on Sunday January 6, 2008, I will start my regular yoga practice come hell or high water. Before breakfast and dinner, I will begin with postures, continue with breathing, and end with meditation. Twice a day, every day. Without fail. For weeks, months, years unending. You will think I am kidding, dear reader, but this is all thanks to you even though I indeed ventured forth by hollering to myself.

Addendum III (January 6, 2008)

The first day of regular yoga practice is now behind me. It took me quite a while to plan everything in minute detail. I had to decide on so many seemingly trivial things that did not even cross my mind at the outset. Should I use the alarm clock to wake up for the morning practice? If so, when should I set it for? Should I shower before the morning practice? Should I be naked or dressed? If I should be dressed, what should I wear? Should I use the alarm clock to remind me of the afternoon practice once again? If so, when should I set it for? And so on, and so forth. I can always change many of my decisions as I go along, but now I have my new routine pinned down for a good start. Anyhow, dear reader, you will be relieved to learn that hollering, too, is now well behind me.

Addendum IV (March 6, 2008)

After two full months, during which I have not missed a single morning or afternoon of yoga practice, I can say only a few things. Most important, I cannot imagine ever dropping the just-acquired habit. It has become so entrenched in my daily life that my pledge already feels perfectly safe and sound. Next, I cannot boast of any great achievements, but I now know so many things that I could not have known before embarking on regular practice. I know my postures by heart, I know how to sit both for breathing and for meditation, and I know how to control many of my mind’s little tricks throughout practice. Last, I feel that I will need a couple of years to reach a point when palpable achievements will become quite normal. I do not wish to rush them, though. Everything will come in its own turn. For the time being, this is more than enough for me. Dear reader, is it not time that you stop hollering to yourself? Regular yoga practice is surely within your reach, too.