I roll out my mat with some intention–then judgment comes.

At some point I hit a wall of tightness, weakness, and the old confrontation brought about by my body’s limitations. Once I start to really breathe, the stiffness dissipates in heat and the judgment releases in the breath.

My mat is very heavy somedays and my ugliness can be glaring.

Judgement is devision and yoga is union. In judgment my tight hamstrings or the inability to hold a handstand becomes a failure to be some idealized yogi. The physical rewards of yoga have very little to do with happiness, peace, and living this incarnation fully. As Krishna told Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita:

“Yogi! Release the desire to be rewarded for your actions!”

Should all yogis be able to put their feet behind their head? Should every yogi be able to touch their toes? No. The practice is the goal. Partake!