What struck me most was how much identification there is—with the body, the mind, the ego, social identity, sexuality… it’s everywhere. And woven into many of these teachings is a strong belief that we can’t control the mind, that it’s just something to accept or observe. That idea seems to have become almost foundational now.

It’s made me pause and reflect—on where yoga is heading, and where I fit in… or maybe don’t. I’m still sitting with it.

But one thing remains clear for me:

Yoga is not about affirming who we are—it’s about remembering who we are beyond all of it.

Yoga, as I’ve learned and lived it, is about mastering the mind. Not through force, but with love, discipline, and devotion. It’s a path of refining the breath, purifying the inner landscape, and reconnecting with something beyond thought—something still, spacious, and eternal.

Modern psychology often tells us the mind cannot be controlled—that the best we can do is make peace with our thoughts and emotions. But yoga says: you can master the mind. You can go beyond it. You can reach a peace that is untouched by the outer world.

And I’ve experienced that. It’s not theory—it’s truth. That’s the gift yoga gave me, and it’s what I feel called to pass on.

When we stay wrapped in labels—gender, trauma, identity—we can end up circling the same stories. Yoga invites us to rise above them. To witness instead of identify. To remember instead of reinvent.

Real yoga is intuitive, but not performative. It’s not about looking a certain way or following a trend. It’s about tuning into the sacred rhythm of the breath, the subtle pulse of prāṇa. It’s about listening—not to the outer noise, but to the Self within.

We don’t need to reject tradition or lineage. We just need to meet them with sincerity—and the courage to adapt, while staying rooted in what’s real.

To those of you who feel yoga in your bones—not as a trend, but as a deep remembering—I see you. Keep going. Keep the flame alive. Let’s honour the depth and sacredness of this path, and continue to offer it from a place of stillness, presence, and truth.

You are not the body. You are not the mind. You are the one who witnesses it all. You are already free.

 Namaste 

Yogini Linda Madani