INSPIRATION AND FINAL THOUGHTS 267This process of getting up, getting knocked down by a wave, and then
laughing hysterically happened too many times to count. This beautiful old
man and his family gave us all a huge gift. He taught us that when life knocks
you down, you laugh and get back up. He taught us that real happiness doesn’t
come from owning things (not even your teeth!), it comes from your relation-
ships. He had his wife and kids, and that meant the world to him. He taught
us that no matter how close to death you are, joy exists in the present moment.
This family’s joy was contagious and their light spread to all of us. My son
and I played more, fell down more, and laughed more. My daughter caught a
great wave. Even the dolphins came swimming by next to that Santa Monica
beach. In that moment, we were all swimming in the Tao!
“Fishes are born in water. Man is born in the Tao.”
—Chuang TzuA FINAL MESSAGE
As we wrap things up, I want to thank you for joining me on this journey of
yin yoga. Take what works and leave behind what doesn’t. Although I’ve been
around the yoga block a few times, my perspective is incredibly limited. I’m
sure there are many experts out there with more knowledge on the topics
that we covered. I’m just sharing from my experience. But that experience
is limited, and I know that. My hope is that going through this experience
together—the history, knowledge, science, conversations, practices, stories,
and quotes—has become more than just a book. This is why I asked my editor
to call it A JOURNEY Into Yin Yoga. My intention is to create an environment
for your personal wisdom to emerge. May your yin yoga practice always be
there to guide you down your path of awakening.
If you don’t mind, I would like to leave you with one last story before we
officially part ways. After several years of study, a student was sent out into the
forest alone by his teacher. The teacher instructed the student to report how
his yoga practices were coming along. The plan was to send a progress note
every several months via carrier pigeon. (This was way before text messages,
emails, and tweets.) So, the student found a suitable hut and spent most hours
of the day doing his spiritual practices. After several months had passed, as
the teacher had requested, the student sent out the first letter. The teacher
eagerly opened it and it read, “Dear teacher, today as I was meditating, my
body dissolved into nothingness. I became pure white light. With my eyes
closed and with my eyes open I see nothing but this light. I am happy to
report I am now enlightened!” The teacher frowned, crumpled up the note,
and threw it into the trash. The student thought it was strange that he never
heard from his teacher, but he continued to be diligent in his practice. After
several more months had passed, he sent his second note. Upon its arrival,