"Because you can-should you?”

Several months ago, eons before the Anudrama hit the yoga world like a maelstrom, I began contemplating the expression, “because you can!” This theme seemed to sprout out of nowhere in my local yoga community. Handstand, drop-back, splits, whatever the chosen apex pose of the class, the message was clear - do it, try it, go for it because you can. Initially I was taken in with the mantra. “Yeah, why not. Do it because you can.” This perspective has a ring to it that complements the philosophy of the yoga of yes, so on the surface I bought in. Yet rooted even deeper in my psyche than the sprouts of “do it because you can” lies the fundamental belief that there are ethical personal boundaries that exist in our world and in our relationships-on the mat, in the classroom and as we participate in the yoga of life.

Over ten years ago I learned another expression from one of the yoga community's most respected Tantric philosophy scholars: “yoga is skillful choice-making.” I fell in love with the concept that my yoga practice not only teaches me how to stand on my head for ten minutes or more, but also provides me with guidelines and a method to become more discerning. This powerful method and guide establishes a roadmap which I have used to make decisions that are life-affirming and meaningful. However, the practice and the philosophy does not teach the student what is right or wrong. Inherent in its premise is that the student is already a grown up whose moral compass is strong and pointed True North. Yet, let's be honest, there are a plethora of choices we are asked to make on a daily basis. Consider the number of coffee shops one drives by in the course of a day, let alone the types of coffee offered on the menu. Just thinking about the choices makes my head swirl and my taste buds froth. A benign example perhaps, yet the awareness that we are faced every day with a multitude of opportunities in which we either stay true to our North Star or become tantalized and veer off course, is paramount to making skillful life choices.

“Because you can” suggests that simply because the opportunity sits right in front of us, like the proverbial brass ring, it is our right to reach out and grab hold of it. Yet, what if it isn't our brass ring? 

Or perhaps we succumb to temptation and press the return button on our computer to access personal information of another individual. Simply because the knowledge is easily available we make the silent choice to invade someone's privacy. As a result of “because we can” an invisible boundary has been crossed. Albeit frightening at times, we live in the age of social media and the information highway. Through it we have access to an insurmountable amount of data. Facebook, Google, Yahoo, etc., are all powerful instruments to be reckoned with in that they may serve or destroy. The world has recently observed history in the making as we have witnessed dictators overthrown by the power of this new paradigm. So is it wrong then to use this method of communication and research? From my perspective it is not a question of right or wrong, but one of skillful choice-making. It is a question of, is this yoga?

Interestingly enough, pre-Anusara debacle, these stirrings arose in my heart when I witnessed the painful effects of another's poor choice making. As a result it begs the question, where does the boundary of personal integrity lie? What if our lines are utterly dissimilar? 

What if my edge is different than your edge? For example, what if you are curious and desire to learn more about me? Perhaps you find me interesting, intriguing and you sense I am withholding a compelling story. You begin to ask furtive, leading questions. However, my antennae are raised and I state clearly that I am not willing to satisfy your fascination. Now with heightened curiosity you begin to push against my steadfastness and a dance of yes and no ensues. Foiled in your attempts, you choose another course. With the ready access of information provided 24 hours a day, you make the choice to delve deeply into my history simply to soothe your self-interest. And poof, you have crossed the invisible line. 

Thus, I circle back to my original contemplation, “because you can - should you?”