Yoga as a Path of Devotion

February 2026

We've had our fill of masala dosas and getting ready to pack our bags for home. It's time to get back to the candle lit mornings at the church with all of you who have been keeping the heartbeat at Mysore Austin steady.

Yoga as a Path of Devotion

We are indeed apart of a larger whole. This has never been made more obvious to us than it is right now. This is perhaps the last lesson that Guruji had to teach us. Maybe we could not fully understand until he left this physical world. It's been a hard real-life lesson indeed, unexpectedly being thrown into the fire of chaos, conflict, and personal responsibility for our own triggers and reactions.

BUDDHI YOGA: THE PRACTICE OF KARMA, JNANA, AND BHAKTI

How we show up mentally in our practice, and in the duties of our daily life matters. What does this mean? Isn't our outcome the same if we put in the same work, regardless of our internal thoughts and intentions? Maybe so, at the level of the material world, but yoga is concerned with who you are becoming.

Karma Yoga is doing our duty without attachment to the results. This is our daily asana practice, sweeping the floor each day without resentment, or preparing for an interview for an exciting job opportunity knowing we might get turned down- but trying our best anyway. It is action without the attachment to the fruits of our action. We are all karma yogis.

Jñāna Yoga is the practice of contemplation on that I am not this physical body.

Jñāna yoga is not about learning of the self, nor is it about being wise or collecting spiritual ideas. Jñāna is practiced when you succeed without inflating your identity or fail without collapsing your self worth. You can feel an emotion without identifying with it. This is the practice of understanding you are not your thoughts, emotions, or roles, but the one who observes them.

Bhakti Yoga is practice of devotion. This is often done in chanting, singing, performing rituals or giving offerings. Bhakti yoga is not transactional. It is with intention to develop a relationship with the divine. It is the building of a relationship that is important in Bhakti yoga.

Buddhi Yoga is all of these practices of yoga interweaved in our life. It is not sustainable to only practice one type alone. One primary practice should be chosen and the other two should be done as well to support the main practice. As Karma yogis, we should also have a practice of Jñāna yoga and Bhakti yoga to sustain our efforts. Along with our daily asana practice and responsibilities, we should make an effort to remember that we are more than our physical body and we should make an effort to have a relationship with the divine through devotional practices.

The Active Series

FIRST OFFICIAL TRAININGS TO AUTHORIZED TEACHERS ARE COMPLETE

It was over one year ago now in Virgina where Sharathji was teaching the first course of the Active Series to authorized teachers. His unpredicted passing left the course incomplete, and many students went home with sorrow in their hearts.

With the help of Andrew Hilam from UVA, Shradha Jois completed the first trainings for the Active Series. It also provided closure for many of the students that were in Virgina who witnessed his last days with us.

What is The Active Series?

The Active Series was developed by Sharath Jois to provide an accessible, authentic yoga practice for people that may not be able to dedicate the time and energy to learn and develop an Ashtanga practice. In particular, he thought of students, athletes, parents or any one who is interested in yoga but may have roadblocks to joining a mysore program. The Active Series offers variations of our familiar practice in a similar sequence that can be done by anyone. The Active Series forgoes some of the Sanskrit and formality of ashtanga so that it can reach a wider audience unfamiliar with the traditional roots of yoga. It's fun, gets people moving and builds muscle, proprioception and flexibility while maintaining roots in a lineage based method.

We are thinking about how we can share this style of practice and incorporate it as an extension of our traditional Mysore program. We know most of our students are looking to stay within their traditional style practice, however this could be an offering to serve a wider range of people looking to receive some benefits of yoga without such a disciplined commitment.

Gratitude for Leo and Sami

January Guest Teachers

First, I thank all of our students for allowing them to feel right at home in Austin. We appreciate Leo and Sami for their kindness, compassion, and depth of knowledge within the practice. If you learned something new, gained a new perspective, or simply enjoyed their presence in the shala, be sure to drop them a note if you did not get the chance in person. With this habit, we just might get a reputation as the most fun place to guest teach! (We won't mention the possibility of freezing rain and ice storms, ok)

Are you interested in practicing at SYC in Mysore? Let us know.

Many first-time practitioners have returned for another year and have shared very good experiences. Personally, I feel that one of the best parts of coming to Mysore is the opportunity to practice with and meet so many others around the world.

We always want to keep students informed when the next season is announced. There is a short application window usually in mid-summer that you will want to look out for. We are available to help guide you in all aspects of this process.  

Sharath Yoga Center, Mysore India

The Very Important Question

Okay, finally many of you know that Andrew proposed in the shala. I said yes, of course, after catching my breath and he reminded me that I needed to use actual words.

As we come home, it truly feels like a new beginning. Playful, romantic, and with very full hearts.

Life can be really hard sometimes, but with the right people around you, it’s a little less hard. And for that, we are grateful.

Thank you for being apart of the Mysore Austin community.

See you in practice,