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“vande” This word “vande” (pronounced “wun-day” or some people will say “vun-day”) is the first word in the aṣtānga yoga invocation. It means to “offer respect”. It could also be interpreted as, “I offer my prayers” and “I give my full attention to”. Being the first word in our invocation that we chant after Oṁ ॐ, the sacred praṇavaḥ, we give respective thanks to the teachers before us. To the ones who have shown us the path, to the ones who care about us, to the ones who we care about. In the prayer, this is a direct link to the guru, the one who gives you the right amount of dosage of yoga for you to do for that day. The one who brings lightness to your step, the one who carries you from darkness to light. Understanding this is important to how you practice every day: when you invoke the spirit of the practice, the spirit of your teacher standing beside you when you begin the practice, it is them whom you give thanks to and respect for showing you how to practice. This is also a very special moment for YOU to chose the right amount of yoga to do for the day. A long term practitioner understands that the teacher will give you yoga poses and sequences and techniques to learn - however it is up to you to carry out what they taught you carefully, in the full respect as they have shown you - with the right effort. Some days you do lots of yoga, some days very little. You manage how much yoga you do, in the same spirit of what they taught you.
This is why you don’t give yourself yoga poses or go off-piste - a teacher will guide you and share with you their knowledge, however it is up to you to respect that and carefully follow that path. Every time I begin on my mat - whether I am shattered - or when I am about to embark on a fourth series practice in the most potent environment possible (in my home or at a shala with full concentration with no distractions), I think of my teachers. The smallest of practices to the biggest of practices - I am never alone on my mat - I always invite my teachers to join me no matter how far away they are. They are here with me, watching and guiding me, and they respect me like I respect them. “Vande gurūṇam…”
”Come and be with me while I practice, I fully respect you and what you have taught me.” “Vande” invites us to accept that we are present at that moment to learn and change through the practice of yoga: to accept we need a teacher and are ready for change. It is also a sign of practical vulnerability: I am seeking help and ready to receive it through yogic practice.
As you mature in your practices, more often than not you will be alone on the mat. By giving respect to the teachers before you, the ones who helped you get on your mat on that day, and to the practice itself - you respect the valuable medicinal powers of practice and are more likely to practice what they have taught you with the right amount of effort (dosage) and in the spirit of how they would want you to practice.
“I’m ready to change, and I respect my teachers and the practice in which I am ready to embark on. I will practice to my best ability, and bring myself towards a more peaceful place.” Your spirit to practice is always supported by the great lineage around you of teachers and friends, community and friendships. These surround you - and are like-minded people who are keen to understanding themselves better and ready for change.
And if for just a second or a moment you think this isn’t there for you - join me for the next conference where we will celebrate practice and yoga. See you there! 10 September - 8:30 am Dublin time, online. ॐ śātntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ॐ tat sat
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