yoga is.

Yoga is.

Yoga is everything.

Yoga is everything and simultaneously nothing…no thing. The word for “that which is not” is Shiva, the first yogi and guru. His first seven students, the sapta rishis, are said to have sat at his feet for years on end, demonstrating discipline, dedication, curiosity, and worthiness to receive the teachings of yoga.

Today, due to demand and business motives, you can trade money for these teachings. However, this does not necessarily equip one to teach. Yoga is a discipline, yet discipline is often lacking…in the teacher, the teachings, and the student. (Apply the trickle-down effect.) How does one embody discipline? In yoga, with a good teacher, consistent practice, and unwavering focus on self-development, discipline can be cultivated. Discipline forms a strong foundation, paving the way for change, transformation, growth, and even evolution. Yes, yoga can be a tool for the evolution of human consciousness.

In Yogic philosophy and its sister science, Jyotish (Vedic astrology), Jupiter and Saturn represent distinct teaching styles. A "Jupiterian" yoga teacher embodies qualities like kindness, wisdom, and optimism. They focus on spiritual growth, self-exploration, and the holistic benefits of yoga. These teachers are flexible with rules, prioritizing the overall experience over strict technique, often serving as mentors who inspire personal and spiritual development. In contrast, a "Saturnian" teacher emphasizes discipline, patience, and rigor. They focus on precise technique, physical and mental discipline, and measurable results. Their approach is structured and goal-oriented, acting more as coaches who guide students through challenges with an emphasis on form and structure rather than emotional or spiritual aspects. These archetypes reflect the expansive nature of Jupiter and the disciplined restraint of Saturn.

Rules do not exist to bind you. They exist so you may know your freedoms. Freedom is the only aim of yoga.

Yoga as a discipline is also a martial art. “Martial” comes from Mars, the militant god of war in Roman tradition. There is an age-old spiritual war, spoken of in the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna enlightens Arjuna on yoga and how to win this war by living in accordance with dharma (purpose, truth, law, nature). In astrology, one’s life purpose is tied to Rahu, the North Node of the Moon, the head of a bodiless dragon. Rahu indicates the need to sever physical attachments. Clinging to bodily life or the fear of death (abhinivesha) is our final obstacle on the path to Yoga.

From my limited experience and awareness, our yoga practice is a life practice to prepare us for death, for the graceful departure from our greatest attachment: the body. While yoga has the potential to blossom into much more, for many, it remains a physical practice. Yet yoga can be a tool to transcend the physical, reaching into a spiritual or metaphysical dimension to know the ALL and bring it into everyday life, making the ordinary extraordinary, as if Source were not only working through you but operating as you. Yoga can be spiritual…a spirit ritual. Spirit is the breath, and ritual is your rite. It is your rite to breathe, as the breath unifies consciousness and life.

Yoga, as a business, has been tailored to appeal to the masses, many of whom are riding the wave of a new-age spiritual movement fueled by ego (the enemy of spirit). Often, people come to yoga as a last resort, at rock bottom, when life presents great challenges. In such a raw state, the deep psychological work that can and should be done is often bypassed. Deep healing is possible, but a bandage often feels like the easier route. Suppression becomes embedded in character, making it even harder to heal.

Yoga is a healing journey, yet many are hurt along the way…physically or emotionally. A great teacher of mine used to say, “Our injuries are a direct result of our practice.” If this is true, then we must reevaluate our practice. In a world lacking patience, wanting everything now, many wish to fly before they can crawl. Proper foundations are lacking, yet the framework has already been built, leading to eventual disaster. This reflects our culture, especially in the West, where yoga has become a stereotypical trend. Trends come and go, but yoga has stood the test of time. Yoga always was, always has been, and always will be, no matter how much the mind (man) infringes. The experience of yoga is personal, but it is not YOGA til our natural state of being is one with all, all with one.

Still, I feel yoga has been misunderstood, particularly in its commercialization. Is it a workout or a work-in? Many haven’t a clue about its roots, power, and potency, nor do they care to know. To know requires seeking. To seek requires work, more work than many are willing to do. Self-inquiry is a good start.

The study, practice, and remembrance of yoga have been preserved for millennia to support a higher level of collective consciousness during this astronomical and astrological dark age, where ignorance and ego dominate, concealing our true nature.

Yoga has many meanings but is widely translated as union. A yogi knows through direct experience that the cosmos and consciousness are united within their being. Maharishi Patanjali (the father of Yoga) said yoga is the cessation of the mind’s natural tendencies to rise and fall. Only then can one abide in true form (which is, in fact, formless) as the witness, or consciousness itself.

For only several decades, yoga has even become a business (busy-ness). As my teacher and yoga business owner once said, “You cannot be a yoga business owner if you are not a yogi.” Embedded within this tradition is a vast body of knowledge on how to operate every area of life in alignment with the source/creator, including business. When yogic principles are not applied in a yoga business due to lack of knowledge or ignorance (avidya), the result can cause more harm than good. Karma is then accrued, which indicates a misalignment with dharma. Typical and traditional business tactics are often applied while the wisdom of yoga is deferred. In the yoga business, community is the currency. A successful yoga business is not based on profits but rather on how tightly knit the community is. This community is cultivated by the teacher’s ability to be proficient, authentic, and relatable. Many who complete teacher training go on to teach yoga but are not truly yoga teachers, nor are they community builders. Yes, yoga is about inclusiveness, but not everyone can or should be included in the community. Yoga is not for everybody, but it is for every body. There are rules to follow, such as the Yamas and Niyamas. These ethics and morals are often self-interpreted, misunderstood, or glossed over entirely. The Yamas and Niyamas outline how to live in alignment with the source. When not followed as intended, they lead us further from the source. It’s that simple, and yet that difficult to live by.

Before the commercialization of yoga, the yoga teacher was supported by a benefactor. Surely, there were renunciates who cared little for material or worldly pleasures. Yet there were also yoga teachers with lives and families, known as grihasthas, or householders. Many teachings today have been skillfully adapted to benefit householders, offering them the potential to awaken what might have remained dormant without these tools. If you have benefited from these tools, participated in community-building efforts, or found value in my teachings over the years, I would deeply appreciate your support during this time. After receiving several complaints due to my Saturnian teaching style, I was placed on a suspension without pay. The details are irrelevant, but as you may know, I have a family to support. I take full responsibility for my current situation, and it is in moments like these that I lean on both community and personal practice.

The good in all of this is as clear as day. My natal chart reveals that my makeup in this lifetime is strongly influenced by Saturn, Mars, and the fire element. Rahu is also making its return (nearly exact as I type this) for the second time in my life. At 37 years old, this cyclical return is asking me to level up and grow, pushing me to live more fully in alignment with my purpose.

I will not be returning to teach at ATHA, as it no longer supports the next stage of my journey. I am grateful for the relationships formed and the space itself, both of which have furthered my path and allowed my purpose to unfold thus far.

Remember: What you are not changing, you are choosing.

The changes I am undergoing are profound and real, furthering me on my path. Faith over fear has been my mantra during this time, and much more will be revealed in due time. This is just the beginning!

Thank you for reading, if you’ve made it this far.

In service,

Frankie Arata

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