Ancestral Myths and Narratives

Understanding the Illusion of Control in Ashtanga Practice

Dear dedicated practitioners of Ashtanga yoga,

Welcome to the whimsical dance of control and the illusion of predictability! You see, in the practice of Ashtanga, we often bask in the comforting thought that if we follow the sequence religiously, we can predict the trajectory of our journey on the mat and in life. We meticulously bind, breathe, and balance, envisioning ourselves as masters of our domain. Yet, as I might have candidly noted in one of those rare sardonic moments, the universe delights in reminding us otherwise. Charitable little system, isn’t it?

Remember, systems don’t behave; people behave. And as much as we’d like to pretend that our Ashtanga practice is a neatly packaged system—free from the fluctuations of our moods, weather patterns, or the whimsy of our teacher’s adjustments—reality begs to differ. It’s as if the cosmos has a sense of humor, constantly delivering those humbling tweaks through your joints, muscles, and, occasionally, your expectations.

So, you might ask, what’s a diligent yogi to do amid this chaotic dance? Perhaps, a healthy dose of flexibility in your perceived control matrix might serve you well—both on and off the mat. Continually reassess, adapt, and evolve your practice, all the while maintaining a sense of humor about your part in this grand spectacle.

If these musings have piqued your interest, please feel welcome to dive deeper into these concepts via an article I once penned with a bit more academic rigor here: Thinking in Systems in a Complex World.

As always, may your journey be as dynamic and transformative as the Ashtanga series itself.

Namaste.