Yoga Teacher Training Journeys

Honouring Affirmations

Barack Obama, America’s first African American president is now a year in office. Such a significant milestone, usually greeted with not only much fanfare both domestically in the US but often by world leaders generally, has been somewhat overshadowed by another achievement of merit, the new president being honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize. Some world figures, including at least one past recipient, had already questioned the nomination coming as it did after just several weeks in office. Imagine their shock when the committee made it’s award! So that got me thinking, is there something yogic in how arguably the world’s most powerful man has taken to his role?

The peace prize announcement caught everyone by surprise. As the news put it at the time, perhaps not in recent memory had there been “such a global outpouring of incredulity and praise in unequal measure” in response. Mr Obama, it was said at the time, was being honoured for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”. The committee praised the “change in the international climate” that the President had brought. It also said part of this change in climate was due to the US president’s stated goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

Perhaps what the committee recognized, and was trying to promote through it’s actions, was a feeling of hope. As it said at the time, it saw hope for a better future. It’s fair to say that feeling of hope stemmed from a thawing in global tension between previously hostile nations, improved global dialogue, a greater tolerance of those who hold differing or even opposing views, and a greater respect for our planet and what to do about it’s parlous state of health. Such worthy aspirations are hardly new to one who is familiar with what we call a yogic path.

It’s been understandable to see critics point out that the Peace Prize honour comes before so called ‘real achievement’ has been delivered by the new president in office. What they fail to recognize is that this award recognizes not so much achievement, but a shift. The language of confrontation has been replaced with the language of co-operation.

The president wants not a new world order, but new world respect. He’s offering diplomacy not at arms length but with a handshake. He’s promising to try to bringing peoples of different hue and faith together in a spirit of peace and decency. These ideals are not beyond him, and nor are they beyond us.

Our yoga practice consists of much the same ideals and it’s ideals such as these which are the foundation of every yoga class. Our experience of yoga reminds us of the value of respect, not just for one another, but for our own bodies. Our experience of yoga teaches us how to live in harmony with our mind and body, and encourages us to take that state into our everyday lives. Our experience of yoga does much to create a sense of inner harmony, just as the new president has been quick to take steps towards restoring a sense of global harmony in marked contrast to his predecessor.

Whether the Nobel committee in it’s actions was showing insight or courage, is best left for others to determine. But can we say their “surprising but imaginative choice” might be based on similar aspirations we hold as yogis towards our practice and the way we live our lives.

Much like yoga, this award seems to me to be less about achievement and all about hope and aspiration. To paraphrase Lao-tzu, such a long journey of high affirmation begins with one step. It needn’t be solely about an outcome or a result, not even when it comes to the world’s most powerful figure.

Do practical goals matter? Yes they do, in the long run. As the famous English economist John Maynard Keynes once implied, no one lives long enough to enjoy the so called ‘long run’. All that matters is now, and what we see right now is a shift in direction which embodies much of what we hold dear in yoga practice. For this reason, the Norwegians with their decision in 2009 in awarding the Nobel Peace Prize might have got it right.

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