I was first introduced to yoga by chance in 2002 while visiting Bangalore, India. I was invited to stay at my Jewish friends’ home, Amy and Josh. Each morning, Amy woke up at 4:30 a.m. to practice. Little did I know, she was a Mysore practitioner of the Ashtanga tradition. Watching her dedication filled me with admiration, and I thought to myself: “One day, I will be like her”.
When I returned to Vietnam, yoga was still something completely foreign, nowhere near as popular as it is today. There were no studios or classes at that time. I was fortunate to meet a kind yoga practitioner named Quyen, who was literally the only yoga teacher back then, teaching at the Sofitel where I was a gym member. My yoga journey began with her sweet and gentle guidance.
With a passion for yoga and a desire to understand its ancient philosophy, I decided to join a 200-hour teacher training in Hatha Yoga after migrating to the U.S. in 2004. A decade later, I entered the Mysore practice under the guidance of Todd Roderick, a renowned teacher of the lineage. I thought that by taking on this challenging path, I would reach the very peak of what yoga is.
Although my yoga teacher training and years as a dedicated Mysore practitioner introduced me to the broader teachings of yoga, including its ethical principles, and inner transformation, my attention became increasingly fixated on mastering the physical practice.
Like many of us conditioned by the worldly mind, I unconsciously measured progress through achievement, striving, and the ability to perform increasingly advanced poses. Rather than embracing all eight limbs of yoga, I prioritized only a few, with asana becoming my main focus. I believed that greater physical accomplishment meant a deeper practice.
This ego-driven approach, fueled by pride, ambition, and forcefulness, eventually led to pain and injury. Through reflection on these struggles, I realized I had been uncompassionate toward my own body and was missing the deeper meaning of what yoga truly is.
I began to understand yoga beyond the poses and glimpse its more profound purpose. Since then, I have returned to the true essence of yoga—a practice of balance, awareness, humility, and compassion for myself and others.
In the end, yoga is not about perfecting a pose, but about softening the grip of the ego and awakening to the fullness of each moment. The practice of the poses offers an opportunity to meet discomfort, cultivate patience, and train the mind. Through sweat, hardship, and sustained effort, we may glimpse a deeper understanding that lies beyond achievement and beyond the pose itself. One breath, one smile, and one mindful step at a time.
