Day 26: Yoga Sutra 1.1 - Now Begins Yoga
How My Vedic Meditation Practice Supports Me in Finding the Now
For the past 25 days, I’ve been writing freely, letting my thoughts flow without restraint. Initially, I set out with the intention to explore all 195 (or 196, depending on interpretation) of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, one by one, each day. But it felt forced—especially in the beginning when my experience was more deeply rooted in addiction recovery than in philosophical analysis. Now, as the sand settles and the water clears, it feels natural to pivot and explore the sutras in a way that aligns with my life and inspiration.
There are 195 sutras in the version I study, and 365 days in the year. I plan to write every day this year, allowing for a balance between spontaneous inspiration and the discipline of studying the sutras. When inspiration strikes—whether from something I’m learning, a conversation I’ve had, or a retreat I’m hosting—I’ll let it guide me. On quieter days, I’ll turn back to the sutras.
Today, I begin with Yoga Sutra 1.1:
"Atha Yoga Anusasanam"
Now begins yoga.
Atha means “now.”
Yoga means “union.”
Anushasanam combines anu (to follow) and shasanam (to direct or control).
The phrase is often simplified as: “Yoga is now.” Not before. Not after. Now.
One of my teachers once said (I believe it was Tommy, though it might’ve been Rolf): “You’ve tried everything else—alcohol, drugs, distractions. Now it’s time to try yoga.”
This resonates deeply. I’ve spent much of my life avoiding the present moment, turning to countless distractions:
Alcohol.
Caffeine.
Being online—my first escape at age 11, chatting on MSN Messenger.
Doomscrolling Facebook and Instagram.
Food—eating to fill a void.
Relationships—seeking fulfillment in men.
Exercise—even healthy habits can become obsessive when driven by avoidance.
Some distractions were healthier than others, but they all shared the same root: an unwillingness to face the present moment.
The Present Moment as a Mirror
Today, while driving, I felt a wave of anxiety I hadn’t experienced since my social media withdrawals stopped about ten days ago. I tried to decipher its origin. Was it intuition about my cat, Princess, who’s been limping for a week? (I was on my way to take her to the vet when I had the feeling) Was it something else—some unresolved fear or doubt? My mind raced:
Maybe a dessert will help.
Maybe a coffee will wake me up.
Maybe texting someone will ease the unease.
This is how my brain works—seeking external solutions for internal discomfort.
In my early years, I lacked the tools to process emotions. Without counseling, coaching, or a safe space for emotional expression, I turned to coping mechanisms to numb or distract myself. My parents, though well-meaning, struggled to hold space for these conversations. They still do, though they’re trying. Over time, I’ve learned to seek support from other sources and recognize their limitations as part of the fact that they are human.
As I drove, I realized the root of my anxiety: it must be because I’d had my first coffee in about 26 days earlier that morning. The location where I went to the twelve step meeting today didn’t have any decaf or alternatives on the menu, and I wanted a drink to sip/keep me busy, so I settled on coffee. I used to drink coffee several times a day, for many years, and quitting was one of my biggest struggles. But it was an unplanned experiment when I quit social media—I stopped drinking coffee as well. For years I’d known it was holding me back from being the best version of myself - yet it felt like a compulsion I couldn’t stop. Sobriety from alcohol had already taught me that when you remove one unhealthy habit, it often snowballs into more intentional choices.
This realization that the anxiety was caused by coffee brought clarity. I didn’t need more coffee, dessert, or distractions. I needed to sit with the discomfort and let it pass.
I joined my friend Rory’s live meditation that he hosts for his community on Zoom later that afternoon when I got home. I had the gift of studying with him in September and have been practicing Vedic Meditation twice daily for twenty minutes a day, since.
Vedic meditation beautifully supports the practice of Yoga Sutra 1.1, Atha Yoga Anusasanam—“Now begins yoga”—by cultivating presence. Through the effortless repetition of a mantra, Vedic Meditation anchors the mind in the present moment, allowing us to release distractions and embrace Atha (now). This practice naturally calms the fluctuations of the mind (chitta vritti - Sutra 1.2), creating a deep stillness that aligns with the essence of yoga as union.
It also enhances our readiness to fully engage in the discipline of yoga (Anusasanam). By being consistent with my meditation practice, it’s become a living, daily practice. Its gentle, surrender-based approach encourages a natural connection to the present. In doing so, Vedic meditation embodies the wisdom of Sutra 1.1, reminding us that yoga begins not in some distant future but here and now.
Leaving my meditation with him, I felt more grounded, anchored in the present, and ready to return to my day.
Yoga Sutra 1.1 in Practice
"Now begins yoga." These words are a reminder to return to presence, to face the moment as it is.
This teaching resonates across traditions:
Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now explores the transformative potential of awareness in the present moment.
The Twelve Steps begin with acknowledging readiness to take responsibility and start healing.
The Bhagavad Gita begins with Arjuna’s conversation with Krishna in the midst of a battlefield—his "Now" is the moment he chooses to listen, reflect, and act.
For me, Yoga Sutra 1.1 represents a daily choice to stop avoiding, to let go of distractions, and to step into the "Now" with curiosity and courage.
Now begins yoga.
Ways to Support My Work:
Buy my book on Amazon (Sober Yoga Girl)
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Sign up for upcoming retreats and trainings
Upcoming Online Programs:
Online 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training 2025
Upcoming International Retreats:
United Arab Emirates: February 18 - 23 or 21 - 23, 2025 Letting Go Retreat
India: March 9 - 19, 2025 (one room left!) This is a Sober Women’s Adventure around India.
Arizona: May 16 - 18, 2025 Sober in The City Event
Bali: May 25 - 31, 2025. A vedic meditation & yoga retreat coled by my friend Rory Kinsella and I.
Bali 200-Hour Teacher Training: July 7 - 27, 2025
Bali 300-Hour Advanced Teacher Training: September 1 - 18, 2025
Bahasa Indonesian Word of the Day
"Kehadiran".
Meaning:
Kehadiran translates to presence or being present. It reflects the state of mindfulness and awareness of the current moment, aligning with the essence of Atha (now). In the context of Sutra 1.1, Kehadiran embodies the readiness and willingness to begin the journey of yoga with full attention to the here and now.
In Indonesian culture, kehadiran is often associated with being fully present in relationships, life experiences, or even in silence. It reminds us that life unfolds in the present moment, not in the past or future. By embracing kehadiran, one mirrors the practice of yoga as union with the present, allowing the mind to quiet down and the journey to begin. It is a word that invites introspection, stillness, and connection to the now.