This week, as I practiced weekly yoga with my son as planned, I decided to share one of the most fundamental principles of yoga with him. In Chapter 2 of Yoga Sutras authored by Sage Patanjali, there is a verse called Sthiram-Sukham-Asanam. 

Sthiram means steadiness and Sukham can be translated as ease. Sukha is opposite of dukha which means suffering. Patanjali is telling us there must be steadiness and ease in every pose. No matter, how easy or difficult the pose may be for you, can you create a balance of effort and ease? Ease is a beautiful thing which can only come with practice and hence he is telling us to create a practice. The wonderful thing about teachings of yoga is that they can guide you not only with your practice on the mat but also in your life-practice off the mat. 

Ask yourself these questions in context with anything you do in life:
Am I steady?
Am I at ease?
What can I do to improve it?

I can tell you that a very simple and most easy way to increase ease is something we can all do---anytime, anywhere. I urge you to try it and teach it to your children as well. SMILE! 

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