Brian Swimme thoughtfully says,

This is the greatest discovery of the scientific enterprise: You take hydrogen gas, and you leave it alone, and it turns into rosebuds, giraffes and humans.

While he is talking about the great story of the universe, I assert that fitness is much tcahe same. We start with our body, which through our prejudices we often think of as little more than a machine. We start with fitness and, leave ourselves alone (through ongoing practice) we turn into humans with amazing capacities to be self aware, reflective, loving and contributing. Body work turns into mind work, and body-mind work turns into the practice of subtler levels of joyfully being alive. Though many yoga teachers and pyschologists and other spiritual folk sometimes lament that yoga in gyms or in the US generally is a physical practice only, many others (including moi) maintain that it is the most appropriate.

The punchline: Here’s how to make yoga out of any physical practice, be it running, deadlifting, rockclimbing, functional training, medicine ball work, boxing, stretching and yoga postures:

1. Choose to pay attention

2. Get curious and allow yourself to be inquisitive

3. Open up to noticing your experience

4. Do what you will do and follow where it leads

The steps seem to point to a progression of physical ability, yet there is more. What you do physically will open emotions, memories, thoughts, hopes and desires, especially the desire to quit if what you’re attempting is difficult! Go into all you find. As Sofia Diaz, a profound teacher says, “the doorway into your greatest opening is your greatest contraction.”