All In The Mat? What Makes A Good Yoga Student?

From ancient to modern accessories of yoga

- Smt. Simone Preuss

One sunny Sunday morning, I spread my yoga mat on the beach and sat down to do my daily practice. While I was watching my breath, eyes closed, two young men approached me and greeted me with a friendly "Good morning". As I opened my eyes, they continued talking, informing me that there was a communal yoga practice happening a few meters away and invited me to join. Pleasantly surprised, I smiled and grunted noncommittally. The young men smiled back and went their merry way.

As I continued my practice, I could not help my thoughts straying away to the question of how we identify each other as yoga practitioners. Had I not had my bright blue mat with me on the beach, maybe just sitting on a towel, eyes closed, would the men have approached me? Or would I have had to twist my body into all kinds poses to be identified as a member of the yoga fraternity?