When I first started my yoga journey, some 15 years ago, I found myself in a constant stream of questioning. I often reflected on subjects like: what is yoga, really?; who is Patanjali?; why do we start our practice with “OM”? why do we end in Savasana? Even as a person of Indian (Hindu/ Buddhist) origin, despite watching my father practice yoga as a little girl, many of these questions remained unanswered for years, especially as I grew up & became increasingly bound to the web of corporate law life.

The reality is that we often practice yoga in the west with very little background or context to its origins. But, I hasten to add- studio teachers & practitioners are not always to blame here. With the busy schedules of western yogis, the increasing demand for uplifting, “power” yoga classes (of which I have also been a consumer) & the relentless pressure on studios to be profitable in order to keep up with city rent, it seems that this deficiency of yogic context is more a product of modern priorities & lifestyle, than an intentional oversight.

So, how can we combine “asana” (yogic posture) practices & their historical philosophy in a studio setting which caters to the fitness needs of clients, whilst also ensuring they understand the why behind certain yoga formalities? There is often a scientific, as well as spiritual- note, not religious- reasoning behind what we do in yoga. Both of these areas merit discussion, but perhaps not at the expense of turning what should be an energizing vinyasa class in to an ancient science, history or philosophy lesson. Achieving this balance is as much a skill as it is an art.

Such objectives to de-mystify the formalities of yoga & to bridge that gap in communication between tradition & modern life have driven Intārya’s conception. I have been navigating the line of division & convergence between the east & west all of my life. Born as a first generation British Indian, educated as a legal professional in London (UK), credentialed in yoga in Bali (Indonesia) under Rishikesh Gurus & now residing in California (US), my own life, in very personal terms, has been a stream of constant negotiation between the traditional ideals of the east & the convenience-driven workings of the west.

So, it is with the utmost humility & respect for my roots, as well as a deep love & gratitude for my immediate community that I offer myself up as an intermediary between these two worlds. And I hope that Intārya can be the interpreter that contributes its own content to the conversation when the thread of comprehension between the east & west has gone astray. As is inevitable in life, this thread of exchange between two cultures may be lost over & over again. But, so long as there is an intention from both sides to engage in the dialogue & to learn from one another, the thread can always be picked up & this time, possibly, with the hope of reaching an even stronger understanding of who we are.

I look forward to treading this path of yoga towards “Bodhi” (enlightenment) with you all.

Namaste.

S. Allan-Sharma

Prologue to Philosophy: What is Yoga?

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