How Practicing the Headstand Led me to Living a Life of Self-Study (Svadyaya – the 4th Niyama) and Writing About It

It was 1991, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and I was about to go on my first yoga vacation. None of my friends, nor I for that matter, have ever heard of such thing. But I was very excited to make such a thing happen. I enthusiastically told my friend, George, about it. “I am going to California for a yoga vacation. This place sounds awesome.” I read him the brochure. While he listened, I described the schedule to him. “At the ashram, we’re expected to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to the sound of a gong. Then go to meditation starts at 6:00 a.m., followed by a two-hour morning yoga class. After the class we are offered a full-service buffet vegetarian brunch. Then we’re assigned a community service project. When our chores are done, we have four hours of free time. One could choose such activities as swimming in the pond or hiking a trail. At the end of the day, there’s another two-hour yoga class, buffet dinner, and, last, a two-hour session of meditation and chanting. Then, lights out by 10:00 p.m.”