as we sat on the beach – my daughter and i were discussing our morning ashtanga yoga class with david kyle.  david has been my teacher for a few years now and i was sharing how grateful i am for all he continues to inspire within me.

after a long pause, meghan asked, “who is my teacher?”

and after an even longer pause, she realized.  though i’m not sure it was the answer she wanted – or any teenager wants, to be quite honest.  but both of us knew.  it’s me.  her mom.

for such a long time, meghan wanted nothing to do with the physical practice of yoga … but i’m not sure she could ever escape the living, breathing part of the yoga as it’s just so much a way of being.  our way of being.  she hadn't before realized it, but she’s been practicing yoga long before she rolled out a mat.

she knows it now, though.  (don't anyone tell billy, as he’d still like to think this yoga thing is just for girls …)

             meghan with david kyle, it's yoga puerto rico

we talked more and i explained that this is the traditional way yoga was meant to be taught – from father to son, mother to daughter, adult to child.  pattabhi jois started studying with his teacher, krishnamacharya, when he was just 12 years old, along with a few other now well known kids, bks iyengar, indra devi, and krishnamacharya’s own son, tkv desikachar.  each grew up within the tradition.

all of these masters stemmed from one family … and they have shared with their families by passing it down to their children, and their children’s children.

perhaps it is because we in the west are still so young in the practice, but most of my generation has had to set out and find teachers.  yet in the way we have grown, the next crop of young yogis will have to look no further than their own living room.

my teacher’s own family has recently grown to include the most precious little girl.  and her destiny is almost certain to include the tradition her parents each honor and instill.  

meet the next generation of yogis, raised by parents and communities lovingly united by a tradition and observance that reaches far beyond a yoga mat.

i admit how much joy it has given me to practice side by side with my daughter. though i did quickly reassure her that one day, she will outgrow me and i will be replaced.  

but for right now, this is how it has always been meant.  for this is tradition – and now, our tradition.  this is her lineage.  

this is her way.

my mom raised us in the spirit of st. francis ... who i'm pretty sure was a yogi as well.